Title-chasers on form as Ormskirk edge Aughton

AS we approach the halfway point of the Southport Tennis League season, a lot of the main contenders did not falter this past week in the race for promotion in each of the competition’s nine divisions.

In Division Two, leaders Ormskirk escaped from midtable side Aughton with an 8.57.5 victory. They maintain their one point lead over Mawdesley, who themselves struggled past bottom outfit North Meols II by winning 9-7.

Ormskirk’s second team upset their counterparts from Sphynx with an impressive 10-6 win, and Southbank’s problems were improved with a surprise 8-8 draw with Birkdale II.

First was playing third in Division Six, and Hillside II showed further proof that they are the top dogs here after bat- tling to a 10-6 win over Aughton II.

Croston second team’s 12-4 triumph over Town Green keeps them one point behind the leaders.

There were also wins for Ormskirk V and Southbank II over Blundellsands III and Formby Holy Trinity IV respectively.

Division One saw the top two play the bottom pair.

Birkdale brushed aside Croston 13-3 and pacesetters Sphynx defeated Blundellsands in whitewash fashion 16-0.

However, Campion caused a bit of an upset as they took down third-placed Formby Holy Trinity 12-4 to movie into the top half of the table.

As for Argyle and North Meols, nothing could separate them as they finished 8-8.

David Lloyd recorded their fourth win of the season with a 12-4 victory over Mawdesley II to continue their reign at the top of Division Three. Elsewhere in the promotion race, Formby secured a crucial 9-7 win over rivals Carlton in what was a tense encounter.

Also getting involved in the promotion fight are Ormskirk III, as they secured a resounding 13-3 win at Argyle II.

In the fight for survival, Hillside managed to scalp Formby Holy Trinity’s second team 11-5 to jump out of the relegation zone.

Everything went to form in Division Four. It was led by top side Ormskirk IV who extended their perfect season with a 15-1 win over North Meols III.

Waterloo in second spot matched that result, as they saw off Maghull who remain without a win thus far.

Campion’s second team made a move in the promotion race as they produced an important 11-5 win over Carlton II. There was also a win for Hightown as they took down Blundellsands’ second team 10-6.

Division Five leaders Sphynx III continue to take control after they comfortably saw off Formby’s second team 12-4.

That win has now extended their gap from the chasing pack to two points after Carlton III had to fight hard to grab a draw over Formby Holy Trinity III.

After that result, Mawdesley III jumped into the race for promotion after a well-deserved 11-5 win over Argyle III who remain in the drop zone.

As for bottom side Birkdale III, they suffered a heart-breaking 9-7 loss against Hoole. That result keeps them without a point to their name.

Promotion from Division Seven could be the first to be confirmed from Mawdesley IV and Formby III who each recorded wins over Southbank III and North Meols V.

Leading the chasing pack are North Meols IV, after they saw off a weakened Carlton IV side by winning 12-4.

Division Eight’s top two of Hillside III and Sphynx IV continue to look firm favourites in securing promotion after wellearned wins over strugglers Argyle IV and Hillside IV.

Birkdale fourth team’s hopes of challenging for promotion were dented as they fell 12-4 to Mawdesley V, who are now one point behind them in fourth.

Also winning was Formby IV who easily took care of North Meols’ sixth team 14-2.

In the league’s bottom division, Campion III made it four wins out of four after defeating Mawdesley’s sixth team 14-2. Hightown II are aiming to join them after a perfect 16-0 win over Birkdale V. It was double delight for Hightown, as their third team defeated Hillside’s fifth team 10.5-5.5.

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