FORREST Badminton Club has always had a successful system of bringing on juniors -- thanks largely to individuals like coach Ray Schofield.
The policy has paid off. Not only have Forrest's teams excelled in the Bolton Le Moors Junior Badminton League, but the youngsters have now filtered through to the adult league.
The club's fifth and sixth teams have traditionally been used as bases to do this, and the E team won promotion from F Section last season as runners up.
This season, Forrest's F team members plainly have their sights set on the same route. And the team's home clash with Moorside D was typical of their resolve.
Steph Wignall and Mark Allan claimed the opening set for Forrest 15-10, 15-6, and Jackie Carter and Ian Hepburn the third game 15-11.
But, Jude Entwistle and Richard Latham kept Moorside in contention with the next game 15-8, and third couple Amanda Bracegirdle and John Rigby added two more.
Steph and Mark took both their final mixed, but when Jean Mangnall and Eric Wilding took both final second mixed games, the scores were tied.
Top ladies were shared, but Mark Allan and Eddie Parry put Forrest in the driving seat with both top men's games 15-9, 15-1.
Undaunted, Moorside came back with both second ladies in a tough set. Now, all rested on the final men's games and Ian Hepburn and Eddie Parry were up to the challenge.
They took both 15-5, 15-4 for a useful10-8 win from a competitive match, and two useful points towards the team's ambitions.
Forrest E, meanwhile, have not found E Section plain-sailing.
They entertained Smithills B at Lostock Leisure Centre and quickly discovered tough opponents. After a split opening set, Smithills' top pair of Linda Singh and Malcolm Rolfe took their set 15-4, 15-5.
The games yo-yoed between the teams until Smithills struck again, this time from second mixed pair Cath Ball and Tony Sames.
Their double victory left the visitors 7-3 ahead, but it was Forrest who were up to the mark at top ladies when Brenda Shott and Janine Parry took both games.
Top men's were shared and when second ladies went the same way, Smithills were on nine games and a guaranteed point.
Tony Sames and Stuart Shaw then made sure of the result for Smithills with both the final games of the night 15-4, 15-3 to give the visitors an 11-7 win, and leave Forrest E looking to future matches for the points.
Top pair
Forrest D are in the same Section, but had a reversal of fortunes in their away clash with Deane B.
After a divided opening set, Forrest struck with both the next games from top mixed pair Sue Bromley and Geoff Pendlebury.
Elaine Smith and Rob Brocklehurst came back for Deane with both third mixed, and their top pair Ruth Hardman and Kanti Mistry added two more. When the final mixed were shared, the score stood at 6-4 for Deane.
Ruth Hardman and Elaine Smith, however, immediately struck back with top mixed 15-7, 15-2 to level the scores and Kanti Mistry and Rob Brocklehurst added both top men's.
When Kathryn Gregory and Elaine Smith took the first of the second ladies' set, however, Deane looked like making a real fight of it.
Unfortunately for them, Forrest took the second game, and both the final men's via Matthew Green and Matthew Walsh to ensure the points from an 11-7 win.
RESULTS
C Section: Hawkshaw C 12, Metro B 6; Chowbent C 9, Sharples B 9; Springfields C 7, Farnworth A 11; Westhoughton B 3, Springfields B 15; GMT A 18, Forrest C 0.
D Section: Smithills A 12, GMT B 6; Metro C 5, Park B 13; Farnworth B 12, Deane A 6; Sharples C 13, David Lloyd LC 5; Park C 4, Sharples D 14.
E Section: Forrest E 7, Smithills B 11; Moorside A 14, Metro D 4; Deane B 7, Forrest D 11; Westhoughton D 11, Springfields D 7.
F Section: Metro E 10, Holy Cross 8; Farnworth D 1, Deane C 17; Springfields E 0, Moorside B 18; Forrest F 10, Moorside D 8; Smithills C 14, Smithills D 4.
Caption: FUTURE STARS: Coach George Laing's Saturday afternoon sessions at Lostock Leisure Centre are helping local youngsters to enjoy badminton -- and to create the create the sport's stalwarts of tomorrow
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