Ormskirk crowned Division Three champs
IT was the perfect evening for Mawdesley as their 8-0 win over bottom side Southport II secured Mawdesley consecutive first division titles.
With only one loss to their name so far this season, captain Fay Andrews and her side have produced the perfect response since their historic title win last season. A three-set turnaround win in one of their men’s doubles matches was the only blip in their whitewash victory over a Southport II side that confirm relegation a few weeks ago.
The battle for second has now become a two-horse race.
Leading the way is Woodvale after their surprisingly comprehensive 7-1 win over Churchtown.
After a shaky start with their opponents taking an early 1-0 lead, Woodvale never looked back and claimed three points that keeps them in control of finishing second.
Just behind Woodvale on set difference, is Victoria Hall.
Their surprisingly tight 5-3 victory over West End Park effectively seals their podium finish.
Sadly for Burscough Pioneers, life in the second division was confirmed a couple of matches ago. But a 7-1 defeat to bottom half side Churchtown II side worsened the blow.
Elsewhere, Southport maintained their well-deserved top-half finish after a strong 7-1 win over Woodvale II.
Crosby’s strong second half to the season proved vital as their most recent 7-1 win over Woodvale V secured them promotion from the fourth division.
It is an achievement that many did not expect going into the Christmas break.
A win next week will also crown them division champions.
While the race for second is still up for grabs, Tarleton III look firm favourites as an 8-0 win over bottom side Southport V and a likely win against Formby II in the last round of matches puts in prime position.
Looking to capitalise on any opportunity given to them, are Mawdesley IV. They maintain their one point gap from Tarleton, after securing a comfortable 6-2 win over Southsands III.
At the opposite end of the table, West End Park III take residence in ‘the last chance saloon’ as a win and results elsewhere is what is required next week if they are going to avoid the drop.
While seeing Formby II lose 6-2 to Ormskirk, West End Park suffered a tough 5-3 loss to St. Cuthberts II. A couple of tight straight set losses in the women’s doubles seemed to be the deciding factor in this entertaining encounter.
Ormskirk were crowned third division champions after an 8-0 win over Churchtown III.
After a strong recruitment during the off season, promotion into division two was the perfect pay off to this club expanding its stature within this league.
Joining them will be Hesketh Bank. Their commanding 7-1 away at already relegated Southport IV made it a season to remember for captain George Fairbrother and his team.
As for Southsands II, their fate of relegation was sealed after suffering 5-3 to relegation rivals St. Cuthberts.
Southsands were the team that sadly could not secure enough results when needed.
That result spared the blushes of Burscough Pioneers II, who survived the drop despite a narrow 5-3 loss to Tarleton II.
As for Woodvale IV, their safety was confirmed after an impressive 6-2 topple over higher-ranked opponents Ormskirk II.
In division two, Southsands wiped out any mathematical chance of them missing out on promotion, as their 8-0 win over bottom side Mawdesley III.
They still have a slim chance of snatching the division title from leaders Victoria Hall II, as they slipped to a 5-3 defeat to third place side Tarleton.
A straight sets win for Victoria Hall in the opening contest had many thinking that that would be the theme of the night.
However, wins in the remaining three mixed doubles and both men’s doubles matches gave Tarleton a lot of hope of promotion for next season.
Meanwhile, the fate of West End Park II continues to be uncertain. A 6-2 defeat to Southport III may have more or less confirmed an eighth place finish.
But with only nine teams in their division this season, it will likely take a league committee decision to determine how this divisions returns to have ten teams involved.
For Formby, that result has pretty much secured their place in division two next season despite suffering a tough 5-3 defeat to top half side Mawdesley II.
Woodvale VIII upset the form book by ousting their own seventh team 5-3 to keep their survival hopes alive.
Despite securing the sixth division title last week, Woodvale VII conjured up a result that many would be seemed suspicious on paper.
However on the court, the underdogs came out with their a-game and toppled their higher ranked opponents for a memorable victory.
That result puts ninth place side Southsands V in trouble as not even their games in hand would be enough to escape the drop at the moment. Their 6-2 loss to their fourth team did not help the situation either.
At the top end of the table, almost nothing could separate promotion rivals Churchtown V and Ormskirk IV.
In the end, it was Ormskirk securing the winning draw. Despite staying in fourth, a win with Ormskirk’s game in hand will see them move up to second with one match remaining.
Splitting those two are Southsands IV.
Their narrow 5-3 win at bottom side West End Park IV still could see them spoil the part for both Churchtown and Ormskirk.