It’s the End for West but Mawdesley clinch first division
WEST End Park II survived for another season in division two thanks to their 5-3 victory relegated opponents St Cuthberts.
Wins in both the men’s doubles was the key to the win that saves them the embarrassment of the dreaded relegation.
For St Cuthberts, it was a heart-breaking evening, as they made a quick return to division three of the ‘Master Lock & Safe’ Southport and District Badminton League.
With the momentum being with St Cuthberts, they were coming into this match with the highest amount of confidence possible.
However, West End Park took an early lead in the first of four mixed doubles encounters.
West End Park’s top pair of Nathan Freear and Jill Scott recovered after a strong start to defeat St Cuthberts’ Martin Fearn and Anne Girdler in a tense match 21-9, 15-21, 21-17.
It was a quick response by St Cuthberts’ second pair of Stuart Harrison and Trish Bennett.
After squeaking out the first set, they cruised through in the end for a straight sets victory 25-23, 21-9 against West End Park’s Phil Dempsey and Jenny Weaver.
It seemed the mixed doubles was not going to separate, as the final two matches were split. The West End Park pair of Chris and Judith Hornby took care of St Cuthberts’ Ian Pattison and Lesley Slater 21-14, 21-11.
Shortly after that, the fourth St Cuthberts pair of Tom Pattison and Nicky Johnston prevailed in three sets against West End Park’s Ben Keen and Sarah Smith 19-21, 21-12, 21-10.
At the start of the men’s doubles, West End Park came out of the blocks strong after Freear and Keen took down Fearn and Harrison 21-17, 21-17. However on the next court, St Cuthberts’ top women’s doubles pair of Girdler and Slater came out victorious in two close sets over Weaver and Smith 21-15, 24-22.
With the scores level at 3-3, tensions were at an all-time high.
In the second men’s doubles match, it saw West End Park re-take the lead as Dempsey and Hornby battled hard to defeat the father-son partnership of Ian and Tom Pattison 21-12, 21-18.
That result meant St Cuthberts needed to win in straight sets to give themselves a chance of a winning draw.
Sadly for them, West End Park’s Scott and Hornby secured all three points after edging out winners 21-13, 18-21, 23-21.
In other league news, Mawdesley were crowned first division champions.
A 6-2 win over third place side Woodvale gave them a very well deserved piece of silverware to cap off a memorable season for the club.
It was more success for Mawdesley, as their third team not only secured promotion, but the third division title. A 7-1 victory over Burscough Pioneers II kept them ahead of Formby by set difference.
As for Formby, they join them in promotion to division two after a comprehensive 6-2 victory over Mawdesley IV.
Sadly for Hesketh Bank, 15 wins out of 18 was not enough in what was the tightest promotion battle in the entire league.
The last promotion or relegation place to be decided was in division six. That honour was given to Southport VIII as they confirmed promotion to division five.
However, their 8-0 win over Crosby II might have been all for nothing. That is due to the fact that their seventh team ended up being relegated in the fifth division. That therefore means that both teams stay where they are. Whether that means the same for the players involved, we will have to wait until next season.
This week is the B tournament, the most popular individual tournament of the season. It begins with the men’s singles tonight (Thursday) and ends with the finals on Sunday, April 2 from 3.30pm.
Every event will be at Greenbank High School.
Keep an eye on the latest news, results and final league tables on the league’s official website, www.southport badminton.com. Also, make sure you like the league’s official Facebook page.