Lydgate get off the mark in fine style

BADMINTON: THOUGH the early part of the season was severely hampered by poor weather, things in the Oldham and Rochdale Badminton League have started to return to normal.

Lydgate’s first game of the season in division one saw them beat Saddleworth ‘A’ 10-5.

A Nicholls put them in front with a 21-17 victory, while Matthew Cheetham was successful in four games.

Wins from Ian Hartley and Martin Kelly and Martin Read and Hartley kept Saddleworth in contention.

But Lydgate proved too strong and rounded off a fine performance with a comfortable 21-8 win from Richard Power and Nicholls.

Northern Flight were the visitors for Lydgate’s next match and they took charge from the start.

David Cheetham and Cliff Broadley (21-17) tried to get things going for Lydgate, but Flight quickly established an unassailable 8–2 lead.

Ali Grimshaw and Richard Power won two of their games together, but could do nothing to prevent an 11-4 away victory.

League leaders Alpha Whitworth ‘A’ consolidated their position with a win at Saddleworth ‘A’.

Alpha dominated from the start and fine wins from Paul Baker and Danny Mills (21-8, 21-8, 21-18) helped them to record a 15-0 win.

In division two, Balderstone beat Alpha Whitworth ‘B’ 9-6, but Spotland’s first match of the New Year saw them lose 15-0 to a rampant MMCBC, who also registered a clean sweep when they visited Alpha ‘B’.

Spotland bounced back with a 9-6 home victory over Saddleworth ‘B’ for whom Rory Bell and Tansy Jones and Bell and Tom Jones registered creditable wins.

Balderstone, bidding for a second win of the year, were outpointed 11-4 by Hollingworth.