Ladies at the double in Victoria victory
THE opening week of the 2017-18 ‘Master Lock & Safe’ Southport and District Badminton League saw many sides send out a message to their respective division rivals.
Already showing signs of ending the campaign with some silverware are defending First Division champions Mawdesley.
Their 8-0 win over Burscough Pioneers has already put them at top spot along with last season’s runners-up Churchtown, who matched that scoreline against Southport II. With Churchtown acquiring Katie Dixon-Turner to their line-up, they hope that addition will be enough to make it five titles in eight seasons.
Elsewhere, Victoria Hall took an impressive 6-2 scalp of Woodvale as the ladies dominated each of their doubles contests, led by Lizzie Tolman. Other wins came from Churchtown II with a top 7-1 victory against Southport, and West End Park with a narrow 5-3 success over Woodvale II.
In the Second Division, pre-season favourites Victoria Hall II made quick work in their 8-0 win over Woodvale III. Mawdesley II triumphed 6-2 against their own third team.
It was a bad start for Southport III. After being relegated from the First Division last season, a 6-2 loss to a strong and solid Southsands side meant an opening week defeat for captain Heather Johnson and her outfit.
Also ending the week victorious were Tarle- ton with a near-perfect 7-1 win against Formby.
In Division Three, first-team veterans Richard and Nicola Williams have joining Ormskirk from Victoria Hall and their presence was highly influential in their 7-1 win over last season’s Fourth Division champions Woodvale IV.
Looking to also compete for promotion are Southsands II and Hesketh Bank who came out with impressive 7-1 wins over Southport IV and Burscough Pioneers II respectively.
There was more success for Ormskirk, as their second-team claimed quite a scalp as they secured a winning draw against St Cuthbert’s.
Division Four saw an early surprise as Ormskirk III adapted quickly after last season’s promotion and comfortably saw off a solid St Cuthbert’s II side 6-2.
Recently relegated Mawdesley IV battled through to defeat Woodvale’s fifth team 5-3.
As for West End Park III who also got relegated, they were not able to begin their campaign with a win as they fell 6-2 to Southport V.
Also collecting three points were Crosby and Tarleton III over Fifth Division champions Formby II and Southsands III.
In the Fifth Division, Southport VI managed to capture a point in their losing draw with Mawdesley V while Burscough Pioneers suffered a 6-2 defeat against promotion hopefuls Hesketh Bank II.
Another side looking to move up to Division Four is Churchtown IV, who defeated Southport VII in whitewash fashion 8-0.
After being promoted from the league’s bottom division, Ormskirk IV and Churchtown V showed early signs of trying to do the same again this season.
A 7-1 win over Hesketh Bank III and a 6-2 victory against West End Park IV has already put them into the mix with the rest of the division’s top sides.
That includes Woodvale VII and Southsands IV who also recorded strong successes over Southsands V and Southport VIII.
In Division Seven this season, three last minute withdrawals from Formby Methodist, Southport and Southsands’ bottom sides, now make this a five-team division.
For more info, be sure to check out the latest news, results and league tables on www.southportbadminton.com. Also, like the league’s official Facebook page.