Surprise as Fish reel in Zetland

AN easy Monday quiz and a rather obscure and unbalanced Tuesday set produced some rather surprising score lines in Division One with, in many cases, the result being the reverse of that in the first half of the season.

The biggest surprise was Fishermen’s Rest’s 50-48 victory at Zetland with Steve Murphy 19, Dave Tarr 13 and Dave Williams 11 all scoring well and Harry Owen and Derek Ainsworth, both 15, and Dick Davies 11 leading the reply.

Also on Monday, E Street Band avenged their early season defeat with a 49-39 victory at Devonshire Club with a fine 22 from Alan Wright, backed up by Dave Twigge 10 and John Richards 16 leading for the home side.

Led by an excellent 25 from Jack Gardner, Ainsdale Sands made the most of going second to inflict a surprising defeat on Casablanca with Dave Dutton 12 leading for the visitors.

Dismounted kept in close touch at Formby Sports until halfway but were rather swept away by the unequal questions in the second half and went down 49-27 with Sheila Tickle 18, Gary Buxton 14 and Keith Gowans 13 scoring well for Sports and Steve Watson 11 for the visitors. Wings were perhaps fortunate in having a blank week.

In Division Two, the big surprise was joint leaders Mixed Blues’ 33-30 defeat at ExPats with Kath Jackson 12 leading for the home side and Claire Newbery 18 for the visitors.

Mixed Blues fared better in the other half of their double header in winning 40-28 led by Claire Newbery 13 and Jim McGrath 10 with Don Hobson 12 leading the reply. Exams and Quads fought a match that was close throughout with the former edging it

38-37 led by Nick

Philpott 18 and Chris Wood 12 with Richard Farbon 15 leading for the home side. Led by Ann and Dan Evans, both 12, MPs led throughout against Southport FC and finished 34-28 ahead with Mick Hopkins 11 leading for the visitors. Good scoring from Roy Shannon 18 and Bob Ellis 13 led Vikings to a 36-30 victory at St Jeromes.

WITH no side still with a 100 per cent winning record at this stage of the season has shown great signs of how tight and competitive the 2018-19 season in the Master Lock & Safe Southport and District Badminton League has become.

One side that is certainly making headlines is Woodvale VI.

After exceeding expectations of a promotion last season, signs of another successful campaign are already on the cards.

Their 7-1 win over bottom side Southport VI as well as results elsewhere has propelled them to the top of the fifth division.

As for the previous division leaders Southport V, a heart-breaking 5-3 loss to fellow promotion contenders St. Cuthberts III sees Southport move from first to fourth.

As for St. Cuthberts, that wins moves them into second and one point off the lead.

There was a very entertaining encounter at Burscough Sports Centre, as Tarleton’s fourth team came through to grab a crucial extra point in their winning draw over Hesketh Bank II.

That result moves Tarleton into third, and now two points separate the top four.

In other fifth division action, Burscough Pioneers III further established their mid-table position after a 7-1 win over struggling bottom half side Formby Methodist.

Despite losing a thrilling Hudson Cup semi-final to Woodvale, first division leaders Victoria Hall regrouped with a commanding 8-0 win over bottom-half side Woodvale II to maintain their two point lead from nearest rivals Woodvale.

As for the second place side, they matched their result.

Woodvale’s first team secured a whitewash 8-0 win over a West End Park side that have suffered their third straight loss after their first five.

There was an upset result as defending champions Mawdesley suffered a losing draw at the hands of Churchtown II.

With a further loss to their campaign earlier in the season, Mawdesley’s chances of securing another title may already be out of reach.

Elsewhere, Churchtown’s first team kept their already slim chances of a first division title alive with an 8-0 win over bottom side Victoria Hall II.

Also, Southport moved further away from any possible relegation trouble after quickly seeing off struggling Southsands 8-0.

Ormskirk made a vital move to be sole leaders of the second division after defeating a Southport III side 7-1 who remain stuck in the relegation zone. Losing touch with the leaders were Tarleton, who were made to battle hard in their narrow winning draw over fourth place side Burscough Pioneers. That result however still gives Tarleton a healthy enough from the chasing pack.

Meanwhile, there was a big result for Woodvale III, whose 7-1 win over Formby moves them away from relegation trouble and into a chance of moving into the top half of the table.

In division three, leaders Churchtown III were pushed to the limit to their thrilling 5-3 win against fellow promotion contenders Tarleton II.

That result maintained their three point lead over second place side Crosby, who reacted well to suffering their first loss of the season last week with an 8-0 win over possible relegation candidates St. Cuthberts.

Meanwhile, it was wins for mid-table sides Mawdesley III and Burscough Pioneers II who defeated Ormskirk II and Southsands II respectively.

Also joining them in mid-table are Woodvale IV, who recorded their first consecutive wins of the season after defeating bottom side Tarleton III 6-2.

It was wins all round for the top three sides of the fourth division.

Southport IV made it three wins on the bounce after a hard fought win 5-3 against a Woodvale VI side who produced quite the valiant display.

For second place side Ormskirk III, it was a near-perfect performance in their 7-1 win over mid-table side Southsands III.

For Woodvale V, their impressive 8-0 win over bottom side West End Park III moves them into third and they remain one point off the second promotion spot.

In the sixth division, Crosby II extended their gap from the chasing pack and now move to just one point behind the leaders.

Their 6-2 win over Burscough Pioneers IV makes it their sixth win of the season.

Losing touch of the top two were Southsands IV, who could only manage a winning draw over top half side Woodvale VIII.

Meanwhile, there was a bottom of the table clash between St. Cuthberts IV and Southport VIII, who both went into the match without a point to their name.

Collecting their first win of the season was St. Cuthberts, who produced a strong and solid 6-2 away win.

Only one recorded result has come from the seventh division so far from the past week.

It saw Churchtown VI continue their push for a division title after defeating fellow promotion hunters Woodvale IX 6-2.

Next week sees the league take a short break whilst the first of the individual tournaments take place.

Greenbank High School will be hosting the A & C tournaments throughout the week ending with the finals on the afternoon of Sunday December 2. All are welcome to attend.

For more info as well as the latest news, results and league tables, be sure to check out the league’s official website,