Nerves jangle for Ormskirk
ST. Cuthberts III threw the biggest spanner into the works of fifth division leaders Churchtown V in the Southport and District Badminton League.
Their 7-1 upset gave Churchtown their first defeat of the season as the League reaches the halfway point.
Apart from losing the second of the men’s doubles encounters, it was a near perfect performance for the fourth place side who remain six points off a promotion spot.
Making the most of this result was Woodvale VI. Their white-wash 8-0 victory over bottom side Southport VII moves them into second spot, and now two points off leaders Churchtown.
That result bumped Tarleton IV down into third after slipping up in a 6-2 loss against mid-table side Mawdesley V.
In the battle for relegation, Southport VI missed their chance of claiming some points in their heart-breaking 5-3 defeat to a Burscough Pioneers III side who are five points clear off the drop.
However still on the relegation bubble are Formby Methodist who were comfortably seen off by Hesketh Bank II.
Another division leader that lost their unbeaten run was sixth division leaders Woodvale VII. After being involved in a tight encounter from start to finish, it was fellow promotion hopefuls Churchtown V who prevailed and are now three points off the top two.
While teams were suffering their first defeats, Southport VIII managed to secure their first win. Their well-deserved 6-2 victory over West End Park IV moved them off last place and all the way up to seventh.
Only one point now separates the bottom four.
There was an enthralling mid-table battle between Woodvale VIII and Hesketh Bank III. With the match ending 4-4, the winner was decided on sets won and it was Woodvale that collected the extra point to move into the top half of the table.
It was a nerve-wracking week for division three leaders Ormskirk.
After recovering from a 3-1 deficit after the mixed doubles, a winning draw was what the weakened side could muster in the end over mid-table side Tarleton II.
That result gave a chance for second and third places sides Hesketh Bank and Ormskirk II to close the gap.
They accomplished that small objective in impressive fashion.
While Ormskirk II quickly ousted Burscough Pioneers II, Hesketh Bank II were certainly made to work hard in their 6-2 win against Woodvale IV. Those results now mean one win separates the top three.
In other division three news, St. Cuthberts secured their first consecutive wins of the season after taking down bottom side Southport IV, and Southsands II gave them a slice of hope of moving out of the bottom two with a 6-2 win over nearest rivals Churchtown III.
Division two leaders Victoria Hall II survived a potential monumental upset against bottom-half strugglers Formby by winning 5-3.
After creating a 3-1 lead after the mixed doubles, wins in both of the men’s doubles contests by Formby caused their opponents to worry. But a couple of well fought victories in both women’s doubles encounters gave Victoria Hall all the points.
Ending the first half of the season on a high, is second place side Southsands after producing a near-perfect 7-1 display against bottom-half side West End Park II.
That win keeps them in second place.
But remaining two points behind them are Tarleton who continue to extend their memorable start to the season with a comfortable 7-1 result over a Southport III side looking to avoid relegation.
As for bottom side Mawdesley III, they almost capitalised on facing a Woodvale III side that were missing many of their regular players. Sadly for them, the midtable side came out narrow 5-3 winners.
In the first division, the injury crisis continues for Churchtown’s first team as they fell 5-3 to Southport.
Since their 5-3 loss to division leaders Mawdesley, it has been nothing but defeats for the former league champions which has seen them move down to fourth place, and nine points off top spot.
Mawdesley made light work of mid-table West End Park 8-0.