A MATCH tonight will help to clarify the title race for the Bolton Badminton League championship.

Current leaders Markland Hill A entertain nearest contenders, and holders, Christ Church at the Heaton tennis club.

Markland Hill is ahead by two points and a useful games' scoreline, but Christ Church has a match in hand.

Two points further away lie ABC, with two matches in hand, and with an equally impressive record this season. Two points away from them are Markland Hill B, enjoying one of their best seasons as well.

Metro A still head B Section and are still on course for the Section championship, in spite of suffering their first loss of the season -- at the hands of fellow promotion hopefuls, Forrest B.

The match, at Metro's Harper Green base, began with a shared first set, and continued its yo-yoing throughout the mixed.

Metro edged slightly ahead to be 6-4 at the halfway stage, and boosted their lead with both top ladies' games 11 and 1, courtesy of Jean Melia and Nicola Hill.

But, Forrest's Richard Truslow and Stewart Seddon then took both top men's 13 and 6. And when mother and daughter pairing Barbara and Ann Seddon took both the second ladies' games, the visitors had caught up.

With everything resting on the final men's set, the experience of Stewart Seddon and the talent of ever-improving Andrew Rodger proved a winning combination. They took the first 15-1, and, in spite of a spirited fight by Alan Parkinson and Mike Wood, the second 15-12 for a 10-8 win and two points from this top-of-the-table clash.

GMT A look set for B Section badminton next year, with Farnworth A, Metro B and Springfields B possibles to join them.

A tussle at the top of D Section could take Markland Hill D, D L Farnworth B or Smithills A to C Section badminton next year on current form.

The three are closely matched, but now pushing ahead of the rest although GMT B, Park B and Westhoughton C remain in contention.

Farnworth showed their form in an away clash with Deane A when they immediately took the first three games. Roberta Snape and N Akram then pulled one back, before Farnworth's J Owen and Tim Barrow took both third mixed and the teams completed the mixed on level pegging.

Farnworth, however, obviously have their main strength in the men's and ladies' doubles. G Ryding and J Almond took both top ladies, and Frank Hulton and Tim Barrow both top men's to clinch the match.

Second ladies easily went to Farnworth 2 and 5, and the final two men's games involved a spirited set which resulted in victory for the visitors 12 and 14, for a valuable 14-4 win.

RESULTS

A SECTION: Markland Hill A 13, Bury A 5; Forrest A 11, BIHE 7; Chowbent A 9, Forrest A 9; Christ Church 11, Hawkshaw A 7; Bury B 7, Chowbent A 11; Chowbent B 5, ABC 13.

B SECTION: Markland Hill C 11, Sharples A 7; Metro A 8, Forrest B 10; Hawkshaw B 12, Springfields A 6.

C SECTION: Springfields C 13, Chowbent D 5; Chowbent D 9, Chowbent C 9; Metro B 8, Hawkshaw C 10; Forrest D 4, GMT A 14; Sharples B 8, Chowbent C 10; Farnworth A 12, Springfields C 6.

D SECTION: GMT B 10, Smithills A 8; Farnworth C 6, Markland Hill D 12; David Lloyd LC 6, Sharples C 12; Deane A 4, Farnworth B 14; Park B 11, Metro C 7.

E SECTION: Smithills B 13, Forrest E 5; Forrest D 9, Deane B 9; Metro D 7, Moorside A 11; Sharples D 16, Park C 2; Sharples D 10, Forrest D 8.

F SECTION: Moorside C 7, Moorside B 11; Springfields E 2, Holy Cross 16; Moorside D 11, Forrest F 7; Moorside B 15, Springfields E 3; Markland Hill E 15, Moorside C 3; Deane C 14, DL Farnworth D 4. Results