BURY remain on course to hold on to the A Section title as they go into the second half of the season with a two-point lead.

Markland Hill A are their nearest challengers but Hawkshaw A are looking ominous in third place.

They sent out a warning to their title rivals with an emphatic 18-0 victory over Forrest C.

DL Farnworth A remain at the head of B Section although Oakgate B have pushed Deane A into third place, beating DL Farnworth B 13-5.

At the other end of the section, Westhoughton A notched up a fine victory over relegation rivals Sharples B.

The mixed games were shared to emphasise the closeness of these two teams – the third couple’s first clash finished 26-24 – with only Sharples’ top couple Louise Enderby and David Saunders making their mark.

Westhoughton’s strength in the men’s and ladies’, though, ensured they almost swept the board with a 14-4 win.

Forrest D continue their domination of C Section with Metro A the nearest threat.

Metro did not have things all their own way, however, when they visited Smithills A who are in the lower half of the table.

Smithills’ top couple, Linda Singh and Malcolm Rolfe, took the opening game before Carole Cooper and David Smith pulled one back. By the end of the mixed, however, Smithills were leading 6-4.

Metro’s top ladies, Barbara Butterworth and Joanne Holden, battled to take the first ladies’ game 22-20 from Linda Singh and Diane Leigh, then repeated the same scoreline in the second.

And after the top men’s set was shared, Metro cleaned up the final four games to take the highly competitive match 11-7.

Westhoughton C retained their unbeaten grip on D Section, with Moorside B and Bolton Lads and Girls A hot on their heels.

Westhoughton, without Alison Muddiman but with useful experienced player Mandy Malloy, emphasised their superiority in this section with a 17- 1 win over Smithills B.

Moorside B beat their own club’s D team 18-0 in a match where the D team’s number one man, Stewart Hall, turned on the style.

Bolton Lads and Girls B put up a tough fight against Metro C, four places above them in this section. The first match of the night went to 22-20 with Kirsty Patterson and Lee Bailey just losing out to Delia Topping and Derek Bold before taking the second.

Metro top couple, Chris Everett and Mike Ollerton, took all four of their games convincingly to give Metro a 9- 1 lead after the mixed. Lads and Girls continued to push them, taking four of the men’s and ladies’ games, but could not stop Metro emerging 15-3 winners.