Flying start for Wings as champions claim comfortable victory

season and they opened their account with a solid 52-31 victory at promoted Mixed Blues led by Dave Dutton (17), Ray Oakes (15) and Chris Sumner (11) with Claire Newbery (13) and Bill Morris (10) leading the reply.

Zetland and Formby Sports will also be challenging at the top and both began their campaigns with a victory.

Newly-promoted Exams kept in touch with Zetland for five rounds but the visitors drew away to finish 50-34 ahead led by Mark Halton (18) and John Clarke and Harry Owen, (both 12). Jim Quigley (12) and Nick Philpott (11) led the way for Exams.

Devonshire Club have moved to the Metro and are now known as the Metros. They were always behind at Formby Sports and finished 48-29 down with Sheila Tickle (18), Keith Gowans (12) and Bill Hodgson (10) scoring well for the Formby side and Dave Leyland and Steve Wilson (both 10), for the visitors. Division 2

Promotion favourites Vikings and Dismounted both opened with a win. Led by Alan Martin 17 and Roy Shannon and Bob Ellis, both 10, Vikings finished strongly to win 41-34 at Shifting Sands with ever-reliable Jack Gardner (16) leading for Sands.

Despite being two down at halftime at Quads, Dismounted also finished the stronger to win 41-33 led by Mike Williams (14) and Steve Watson and Frank Hansen (both 10) and Adrian Cannell, Richard Farbon and Steve Redfern (all 10), leading for the home side.

Dan Evans achieved his best – ever score of 21, assisted by Chris Hodgen (10) in Exams’ 44-31 victory at St Jeromes with Sue Ford (14) and Mike Beckingham (11) leading for the Formby side.

Closest match of the week was at Ex Pats where the home side secured a 32-31 victory over Formby Pavilion led by Kath Jackson (10), with Leon Metford (15) leading for the visitors.