Ormskirk well beaten in battle for control of Division Six

IT was quite the week in division two of the ‘Master Lock & Safe’ Southport and District Badminton League, as all four matches were decided by a 5-3 score-line for the home team.

Most notably, Victoria Hall II made it four wins out of four as they came through winners in a battle of the top two against promotion rivals Southsands.

Two three-set wins in the mixed doubles gave Victoria Hall a cushioned gap to fall back on if necessary.

That moment turned out to be the deciding factor, as an even split of victories in the men’s and women’s doubles gave Victoria Hall sole control at the top of the division.

Meanwhile at the opposite end of the table, it was a heartbreaking week for both Southport III and Mawdesley III. Their losses to Formby and West End Park II might have an already sealed their fate for relegation.

With only a combined one point to show for their efforts, it would take a serious turnaround in form for any other side to fall into the relegation battle.

There was an entertaining mid-table clash, which saw Mawdesley II made the most of a weakened Woodvale III and firmly cement their place in the top half of the table.

In the league’s top division, it seems we definitely have a two-horse race for the title, as defending league champions Mawdesley used all their strength and determination to take down third place side Woodvale 5-3.

After their opponents coming out of the blocks well to take a 3-1 lead after the mixed doubles, Mawdesley regrouped and won all the men’s and women’s doubles encounters to take all three points.

The highlight of this memorable victory came first men’s doubles pair of Steven Andrews and Andy Fowler, who squeaked through to win in three enthralling sets against Woodvale’s own Chris Chu and Michael Johnson 21-11, 13-21, 21-19.

That result along with Churchtown’s commanding 8-0 victory over their own second team put both sides at least six points clear of the rest of the field.

Elsewhere, bottom side Southport II remain without a point after a tough 5-3 loss to a Woodvale II side who look to be on the verge of having a consecutive season in this division for the first time in many years. Despite the best efforts of Southport’s second team, which included two wins for Andrea Phillips in her matches, their next league match against Churchtown II could be their last chance in deciding whether they have a chance of survival.

It was double 6-2 wins for both unbeaten sides Churchtown IV and Tarleton IV, as next weeks clash to control the fifth division is boiling up nicely.

While Churchtown were made to work hard against a Woodvale VI who suffered their first defeat of the season, it was a much more clinical display in Tarleton’s victory against St. Cuthberts III.

As for the other sides, third placed Hesketh Bank II worked hard for a well-earned winning draw over Mawdesley V, Burscough Pioneers captured their first win of the season against fellow Formby Methodist 5-3 and Southport VI comfortably saw off their own seventh team 7-1.

An impressive all-round team display saw Woodvale VII take control of the sixth division after a 6-2 win over Ormskirk IV in what was battle of the top-two.

After wins in all four of the opening mixed doubles encounters, two straight sets wins in a men’s and women’s doubles contest further stamped their ruler over this sixth division field.

In the bottom half of the table, it would take a brave person to predict the outcome as as many as seven sides looked to be as good as each other. While Southsands IV secured their second win of the season after a 7-1 oust of Woodvale VIII, it was a week to remember for West End Park IV after their 5-3 victory against Southsands V took them out of the bottom two for the time being.

Another side got off the mark for their 2017-18 campaign were Hesketh Bank III, who secured the narrowest of wins in their winning draw over Southport VIII.

Ormskirk’s first team’s dominance in the third division stretches to five games after their 8-0 whitewash over fourth place side Burscough Pioneers II.

Looking to remain hot on their heels were Hesketh Bank. While it was a win over Ormskirk II, it only managed to be a winning draw for the second place side.

With the gap between the top two now at two points, that result against Ormskirk II will most certainly have given Hesketh Bank captain George Fairbrother fair warning for their next match division leaders Ormskirk.

Meanwhile, Woodvale IV made it three games without a loss after their strong perfor- mance against Southsands II to claim a winning draw and move into sixth place.

It was top versus bottom in division four, as leaders Mawdesley IV produced a near perfect display in taking down West End Park III 7-1.

Other fourth division results saw a strong start for Tarleton III saw them ease to a 5-3 victory over St. Cuthberts II and Formby II stormed to an astonishing 8-0 win over Southsands’ third team to now lead the chasing pack behind the top two.

In the league’s seventh division, Burscough Pioneers IV jumped clear into first place after a strong 7-1 win over St. Cuthberts V.

Despite falling short in a tight opening mixed doubles match, Burscough recovered well to only lose one set after that to collect another valuable three points.

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