MARKLAND Hill B have surprised a few teams in A Section this season -- and have just beaten off a double challenge from Bury BC.

The Heaton club has two teams in the top division, the former Leigh A team have now amalgamated into Markland Hill A to provide a two-pronged attack on the championships against rivals Christ Church and ABC.

Bury's A, and also this year, B teams can always upset the honours' applecart and have consistently finished ahead of Markland Hill A. But an on-form Markland Hill B that beat champions Christ Church earlier in the season, scored 13-5 victories over both Bury's teams in the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, BIHE earned two important points with a 13-5 away win over Chowbent A, as did Forrest A with their 15-3 home win over Chowbent B. Forrest B are faring better in B Section, close to the top and with a useful 11-7 win over rivals Park A to their credit.

Forrest C were promoted as champions of D Section last season, but all is not plain sailing in C Section.

When they entertained Chowbent D at their Lostock Leisure Centre home, the early signs, however, looked promising. Dureen Dixon and Stuart Berry notched up 15-0, 15-13 wins with their opening set. But, away number one pair, Chris Travis and Steve Chatterton came back with both theirs.

The next mixed sets were shared to leave the score at 5-5 going into the men's and ladies' doubles. Here, it was first blood to Chowbent with both top ladies 15-6, 15-4 thanks to Gemma Hilton and Chris Travis. Top men's went to Forrest's Stuart Berry and Ray Schofield -- but Gemma and Anne Lockey took back the initiative for Chowbent by taking both second ladies to leave the visitors assured of a point.

And David Travis and Ron Hunte took both the final men's 15-2, 15-4 to give Chowbent both points.

Metro B look more determined this season but came up against D L Farnworth A, a team equally determined to return to B Section. The first four games were shared, three of them to double figures then third pairing Dianne Hale and Chris Barrow put Farnworth in the driving seat with both their mixed games. As the final mixed set was also divided, Farnworth were 6-4 ahead at the change.

The closeness of the two teams continued through top ladies and mens. But when Sue McGlynn and Dianne Hale took the first of the final ladies' set 15-2, it looked like Farnworth might snatch the points but Metro's Pam Jennings and Glenys Pilkington took the second in a nail-biting 15-14 to keep Metro's hopes alive.

In the last men's games, Glenys's teenage son John joined Ian Winrow to take the first game 15-14 only for Mark Kirkman and Chris Barrow to win the final game 15-9 to force a draw.

Metro E faced a similar close encounter in their F Section home match against DL Farnworth D team. Sheila McAvoy and Trevor Bond got them off the mark well with the opening mixed 15-0, 15-3, followed by Margaret Bryan and Ken Hart taking the next game 15-10.

But then Farnworth got going, taking the fourth game of the night through Linda Ogden and Alan Barnes. The next four games were then shared to leave the score at 6-4 for Metro at the halfway stage.

Linda Ogden and Amy Wardle levelled the scores with both top ladies' 15-9, 15-6, but Trevor Bond and Ken Edmondson fought back to take both top men's 15-0, 15-6. The real turning point for Metro, however, came in the second ladies' games when Margaret Bryan and Sylvia Cockram took both games to put the home team on ten games, and two points.

The final set of the night gave a further game each to the two teams, but Metro enjoyed the benefits of their 11-7 victory.

RESULTS A Section: -- Chowbent A 5, BIHE 13; Markland Hill B 13, Bury A 5; Bury B 3, Markland Hill B 15; Forrest A 15, Chowbent B 3; ABC 13, Hawkshaw A 5.

B Section: -- Springfields A 8, Sharples A 10; Hawkshaw B 10, BSC 8; Swinton 12, Racquets 6; Park A 7, Forrest B 11; Westhoughton A 8, Markland Hill C 10.

C Section: -- Springfields C 7, Westhoughton B 11; Chowbent C 14, Chowbent D 4; Chowbent C 6, GMT A 12; Hawkshaw C 5, Farnworth A 13; Forrest C 7, Chowbent D 11; Sharples B 4, Springfields B 14; Farnworth A 9, Metro B 9.

D Section: -- GMT B 14, Park B 4; Markland Hill D 14, Sharples C 4; Farnworth C 11, Deane A 7; Metro C 6, Farnworth B 12; Westhoughton C 16, David Lloyd LC 2.

E Section: -- Sharples D 7, Springfields D 11; Smithills B 5, Forrest D 13; Hawkshaw D 17, Metro D 1, Deane B 13, Moorside A 5.

F Section: -- Smithills D 12, Holy Cross 6, Metro E 11, Farnworth D 7; Forrest F 11, Smithills C 7; Springfields E 5, Moorside C 13.