THE first round of the Bolton Badminton League cup brought some nail-biting ties.

Park B started well against Smithills A in the Robert Cup, taking the first two games to 2 and 5 courtesy of Chris Salmon and Bill Kay.

But Smithills' top pair Lynn Butcher and Ken Blood then took points back with a shared second set including one to 2.

The mixed sets were evenly matched with Park generally ahead but Smithills keeping up the scoring.

The men's and ladies' games proved equally close, Park taking all but two of the games although Smithills kept their points in double figures.

The final men's kept up the excitement, with Andy Lowe and Jack Hollinshead taking the upper hand for Park.

But when Smithills' Stuart Shaw and Clive Bass managed 9 and 12 in these two games, the damage was done.

The sealed envelope revealed a handicap of +80 for Smithills -- enough to give them victory by 10 points, 255-245.

Moorside B and Deane B from E Section were also closely matched in their David Ashcroft Memorial Cup clash.

The points see-sawed throughout the mixed, with Deane second couple Ruth Hardman and Kanti Mistry the most consistent.

Deane's Kathryn Gregory proved pivotal during the ladies' doubles games, however. She teamed with Eileen Smith for 7 and 4 wins at top, and then she partnered Ruth Hardman for 12 and 9 wins against H Pennington and A Pates.

The final men's games of the night reflected the balance between the two teams. Moorside's P Wignall and M Pates took the first game to 10, and then Kanti Mistry and Phillip Day took the second to 11.

When the handicap was revealed, Moorside had a +40, which proved not quite enough when Deane emerged winners by just four points, 242-238.

CUP RESULTS:

Jane Fletcher Memorial Cup (A & B Sections): Swinton (+150) beat Forrest A (scr) 323-233; ABC (scr) beat Metro A (+120) 259-219.

Robert Cup (C & D Sections): Metro C (+80) beat Chowbent C (scr) 257-225; Springfield D (+140) beat Sharples B (scr) 299-214; Smithills A (+80) beat Park B (scr) 255-245; Sharples C (+180) beat Westhoughton A (scr) 284-259; D L Farnworth B (+50) beat Springfield B (scr) 269-222.

David Ashcroft Memorial Cup (E & F Sections): Forrest D (scr) beat Holy Cross (+140) 261-235; Smithills B (scr) beat Moorside C (+90) 263-199; Moorside A (scr) beat Westhoughton D (scr) 244-161; Smithills D (+135) beat Deane C (scr) 314-179; Deane B (scr) beat Moorside B (+40) 242-238.

LEAGUE RESULTS:

C Section: Sharples B 11, Markland Hill D 7; Springfield B 6, Westhoughton A 12; Metro B 12, Chowbent C 6; Farnworth B 13, Hawkshaw C 5; Westhoughton B 11, Springfield C 7.

D Section: Sprngfield D 2, Westhoughton C 16; Hawkshaw D 12, Metro C 6; GMT B 13, Forrest C 5; Deane A 15, David Lloyd LC 3.

E Section: Metro D 7, Moorside A 11; Westhoughton D 5, Deane B 13; Forrest E 5, Forrest D 13; Deane C 3, Smithills B 15.

F Section: Forrest F 10, Metro E 8; Farnworth D 6, Holy Cross 12; Park C 16, Smithills D 2.