They are suffering from the lack of membership which has blighted so many clubs this season, and already forced Springfield BC to pull a team out of F Section.

The withdrawal will mean that all Bolton Institute's results in A Section so far will be expunged.

Phong Tran -- who has been with the college-based club since it began nine years ago -- said the members were very sad about the move.

"It is a shame for the club, and for the League because we do need more teams and more players," he said. "Unfortunately, we just did not have enough women to play in the team."

Bolton Institute fought its way up the League from the bottom section, winning titles and promotion along the way in a determined effort for top flight badminton.

Ironically, when they reached A Section, they have only enjoyed a couple of seasons before being forced to quit.

Elsewhere in A Section, Markland HIll A continue to edge to the top of the table, emphasised with a 17-1 win over Forrest A, with Christ Church, ABC and Markland Hill B the nearest challengers.

DL Farnworth A showed their superiority in B Section with a useful away win over rivals Chowbent B.

Janice Jackson and Ian Mackinder started the home side off well with 15-4, 15-8 wins, before Debbie Schofield and Howard Ryding fired warning shots for the opposition with both their opening mixed games 9 and 6.

The two teams were well matched throughout the mixed, but the match was tipped towards the visitors when Debbie and Dianne Hale took both top ladies' 2 and 7.

Top men's were shared but when Dianne Hale teamed up with Sue McGlynn to take second ladies' for Farnworth, the visitors had the points.

Shaun Chadwick and John Pilkington fought hard for the final men's games, but went down 14 and 4 to Mark Kirkman and Chris Barrow to give Farnworth a 12-6 win and keep them in pole position for promotion.

Bury B are another strong side in B Section and hoping to return to the top flight. They were in determined mode when they went to Smithills Sports Centre to play Park A.

Park were first off the mark with the opening set from Barbara Gillett and Ashok Mistry, but Bury came back with offerings from Pam Ramotowski and Bob Trethewey in particular to be 6-4 ahead after the mixed.

Top ladies' and men's were both shared, but when Pam teamed up with Sylvia Ellis Jones, they took both second ladies' for Bury, and the match.

Bob Trethewey and Tony Ramotowski added both final men's to give them a 12-6 scoreline, and two helpful points.

RESULTS

A SECTION: Bury A 6, Christ Church 12; Markland Hill A 17, Forrest A 1; Forrest B 3, Hawkshaw A 15; Metro A 6, Chowbent A 12.

B SECTION: Markland Hill C 13, GMT A 5; Park A 6, Bury B 12; Swinton 13, Springfield A 5; Chowbent B 6, DL Farnworth A 12; Racquets 5, Sharples A 13.