Tara snatch win in top-two clash

LAST season’s top two teams faced each other in the Oldham and Rochdale Badminton Open Division One as Alpha Whitworth ‘A’ entertained Tara.

Tara started well as Tony Weston and Tony Schofield won 15-7, but the home side then took the advantage as they won the next three games.

The following five games went to Tara, with Phil Turner and Andy Shackleton (15-7) the best of the bunch, but Alpha pulled the game back to 7-7 to take it into a deciding game which saw Tony Weston and Colin Dunn win comfortably (15-3) to take the match 8-7 for Tara.

Lancashire Racquets ‘A’ and Northern Flight also went toe-to-toe and found themselves with a 7-7 scoreline going into the final game.

Mike Winterburn and Peter Burke secured the win for Racquets as they took the decider 15-10.

Northern Flight did record a victory, however, when they hosted Balderstone. Despite some spirited performances from the visitors, Northern Flight won comfortably 13-2.

Unbeaten Dons continue to lead the division, but the wins for both Lancashire Racquets ‘A’ and Tara means they remain second and third respectively.

In Division Two, Spotland faced a tough test away to unbeaten Saddleworth ‘A’. The Saddleworth pair of James Whyman and Martin Kelly won all three of their games together (15-10, 15-4, 15-7) to help the home side to a convincing 13-2 win.

Alpha Whitworth ‘B’ faced Springhill and started well by winning the first two games. Springhill levelled by winning the next two, Lewis Wild and Josh Ellidge looking impressive as they won their game 15-2.

A tight match was decided by three wins from Alpha duo Guran Batra and Dave Dunn, the most important being an epic 15-13 win, giving Alpha a 9-6 victory.

In the team handicap competition semi-finals, Springhill beat Alpha ‘B’ to set up a final against Lancashire Racquets ‘B’ (who beat Lydgate) on March 21 at Matthew Moss.