FORREST Badminton Club is one of the top clubs when it comes to helping juniors.

And its long-term policy to coach, nurture and encourage young players is now paying off in its teams, in particular Forrest E and F teams.

Both in D Section, the two teams have produced some solid performances so far this season, with a further bid for cup success next week.

Their latest matches reflect the effectiveness of teaming youngsters -- many of whom have come through the Bolton le Moors Junior League's ranks -- with more experienced players.

The D team's New Year trip to Deane Leisure Centre to play Deane B saw gritty play from both sides, with Deane taking the opening set from Kathryn Gregory and Andrew Massey.

The visitors' top pair Gerry Carter and Chas Parry responded immeditely with their first two, and then added two more.

Shared games elsewhere then edged them into a 6-4 lead after the mixed.

Gerry with Claire Nelson pushed Forrest further with both top ladies from two tight games, before Deane took back top men's. But when Claire Nelson and Sue Mellor took both second ladies' games, the visitors had reached the magic ten for the points.

Forrest E were at the David Lloyd Centre to face a tough Farnworth C side. The first two sets were shared before Maggie Young and John Young took both third mixed for the home side.

Ann Schofield and Glyn Clough, however, came back with their final mixed to level the scores and, with two more games divided, it was level pegging going into the men's and ladies' games.

Here Forrest really shone. One of their consistent youngsters, Philippa McCarthy, teamed with veteran Ann Schofield to take top ladies 8 and 10, before talented teenager Stuart Powers with Glyn Clough took top men's 14 and 10 to clinch the points from 11 games.

Farnworth's own young talent, Tim Barrow and John Young, took the final two games of the night but this could only tidy up a scoreline that went firmly the way of the visitors.

Markland Hill youngster Anthony Fox aided Markland Hill D to a useful home win against Chowbent C in C Section. Heather Cowell and Rob Brown kicked off the Markland Hill scoreline with their opening two. The next set was shared before Anthony with Sally Howell took both third mixed.

The tennis club were 7-3 ahead going into the men's and ladies' games but Chowbent fought back with both top ladies' games from Louise Atherton and Gemma Hilton.

Markland Hill's men proved too strong for the visitors on the night, though, taking all four games for an 11-7 win.

Results - Section A -- Chowbent A 8 Markland Hill A 10; Chowbent A 12 Forrest A 6; Markland Hill B 14 Chowbent A 4; Forrest A 14 Forrest B 4; Markland Hill A 14 ABC 4; Christ Church 8 Hawkshaw A 10.

Section B -- Raquets 3 Hawkshaw B 15; Springfield A 6 Sharples A 12; Raquets 6 Chowbent B 12; Farnworth A 9 Raquets 9; Hawkshaw B 9 Swinton 9; Bury B 11 Markland Hill C 7; Chowbent B 9 Park A 9.

Section C -- Springfield C 3 Hawkshaw C 15; Westhoughton A 11 Metro B 7; Markland Hill D 11 Chowbent C 7; Sharples B 10 Westhoughton B 8; Chowbent D 4 Springfield B 14.

Section D -- GMTB 17 Springfield D 1; Park B 18 Sharples C 0; Westhoughton C 11 Deane A 7; Hawkshaw D 6 Smithills A 12; Metro C 13 David Lloyd 5.

Section E -- Moorside B 15 Deane C 3; Smithills B 14 Metro D 4; Deane B 8 Forrest D 10; Farnworth C 7 Forrest E 11; Moorside A 5 Deane B 13; Sharples D 9 Westhoughton D 9.

Section F -- Smithills C 15 Smithills D 3; Moorside D 4 Moorside C 14; Holy Cross 13 Smithills D 5; Moorside D 3 Park C 15; Smithills D 1 Markland Hill E 17; Forrest F 4 Smithills C 14; Metros E 7 Moorside C 11.