Tarleton edge crucial clash
TARLETON III prevailed in a battle of the top two of the fourth division, after securing a thrilling winning draw over Mawdesley IV in week 16 of the Master Lock & Safe Southport and District Badminton League.
Despite the score finishing 4-4, Tarleton III looked to be in control for the majority of the contest. While the mixed doubles left the score level at 2-2, Mawdesley had to battle hard to win both of their matches in a couple of tight three-setters. That is compared to Tarleton, who secured their victories in straight sets.
That looked to be the same in the men’s and women’s doubles encounters. In the end, Tarleton’s efforts in their three-set defeats became the factor as their superior amount of sets gave them the winning draw.
Meanwhile, troubles continue for relegation threatened Southport V and West End Park III. Both of their 6-2 defeats to mid-table Ormskirk III and Southsands III means another missed opportunity to swap places with Formby II, the only side either of them can mathematically topple.
Mawdesley are now just one win away from retaining their first division title. That position was secured after a well fought 5-3 win over title rivals Churchtown.
With every match in the mixed and men’s doubles split, it was Mawdesley’s two comfortable wins in the women’s doubles that held the key to another three points.
That result still opens the door for Woodvale and Victoria Hall to finish in the top three. Both sides made the most of this and both secured dominant wins over Woodvale II and Southport II respectively.
At the opposite end of the table, it will take a miracle for Burscough Pioneers to survive the drop now. Their 6-2 defeat to mid-table side Southport now means one more winless game will see them return to division two.
The sight of a Southsands team back in the first division is soon to become a reality. After Mawdesley’s upset 5-3 win over third-place side Tarleton, only one point from Southsands’ remaining two matches will see them join leaders Victoria Hall II.
As for the second division’s top side, they managed to stutter their way past a West End Park II side desperately looking to survive the drop. After a surprise defeat in both men’s doubles contest, Victoria Hall had to battle hard to secure both women’s doubles matches and prevail 5-3. Another win for Victoria Hall will see them crowned second division champions. As for West End Park, avoiding relegation is still a possibility.
With only three points separating themselves and Southport III and Formby, the final relegation will more than likely be settled in the final week of matches.
In other second division action, Formby grabbed themselves a helpful winning draw over mid-table side Woodvale III.
In division three, Churchtown III look to have all but avoided relegation after their strong 6-2 win over Burscough Pioneers II. An impressive team display now puts Churchtown up into sixth place. As for Burscough, they remain on the bubble of a relegation scrap.
Still sat in that second relegation spot is Southsands II. Their 8-0 whitewash defeat to promotion hopefuls Hesketh Bank means wins in both of their remaining matches are becoming a necessity.
As well as Burscough, St Cuthberts and Woodvale IV continue to look over their shoulder as they are still not mathematically out of the relegation picture just yet. While St Cuthberts fell 7-1 to leaders Ormskirk, Woodavle failed to extend their unbeaten league run since the Christmas break as Tarleton II defeated them 6-2.
Churchtown IV secured promotion from division five, after a 7-1 win over strugglers Formby Methodist.
Apart from slipping up in a men’s doubles match, it was a near-perfect performance for the fifth division leaders.
Second place Woodvale VI secured a combined five points from the two matches they competed in this past week. A winning draw over mid-table side Hesketh Bank II and an impressive 6-2 over promotion rivals Tarleton IV has given them the chance of a place in the fourth division for next season. But with Tarleton having a game in hand, destiny is still out of Woodvale’s hands.
Tarleton also doubled up league matches this week. Their second match of the week saw comfortably see off Southport’s sixth team 6-2.
While their sixth team still has a chance of survival, it’s all over for Southport VII. Their 7-1 loss at the hands of bottom-half side Burscough Pioneers III confirmed relegation.
In other fifth division action, St Cuthberts III kept their slim hopes of promotion alive with an impressive 7-1 victory against Mawdesley V.
In the league’s bottom division, St. Cuthberts IV continue to rule the roost at the top after ousting promotion rivals Burscough Pioneers IV 6-2.
That result opened the door for Formby III to temporarily occupy the second promotion spot. They did it in spectacular fashion, with a commanding 7-1 win over Southsands VI. However, Burscough have a game in hand.
Only two results have been confirmed from division six this past week. It saw Churchtown V remain in a tight battle for second place with rivals Ormskirk IV, after they took quick care of Southport’s eighth team 7-1. As for Hesketh Bank III, they have temporarily moved out of the relegation zone after seeing off bottom side West End Park IV. That result sadly sealed West End Park’s fate, as they are relegated to the seventh division.
This week sees the sides left in the cup competitions looking for a place in their respective finals, as the semifinals of the Watkinson Trophy and all the Shield competitions will be taking place. For more info, check out www. southportbadminton.com.