Churchtown pushing for promotion to Division 1
CHURCHTOWN’S third team moved a pivotal step closer to life in the first division next season, after claiming a winning draw over Crosby in a battle of the top two in the second division in week six of the ‘Master Lock & Safe’ Southport and District Badminton League.
With both sides going into the match protecting a one hundred percent winning record, something had to give.
The opening mixed doubles bouts saw both sides claim two victories and tensions were gradually building to boiling point.
While Churchtown took the plaudits in both women’s doubles contests, Crosby answered back by taking the two men’s doubles matches.
But with Churchtown losing the second men’s doubles match in three sets, that set was enough for them to claim the winning draw and the extra point to take top spot on their own.
As the top two were duking it out, the rest of the division were looking for a way to put a dent in the promotion race.
Tarleton and Mawdesley II quickly saw off relegation candidates Hesketh Bank and Formby 8-0 and 7-1 respectively.
Also, Burscough Pioneers managed to edge a winning draw over Woodvale III in a battle of the mid-table sides.
In the first division, four has gone down to three in the battle for the league title.
After a heart-breaking 5-3 loss against defending champions Victoria Hall last week, it was back-to-back defeats for Mawdesley as they fell 6-2 at Churchtown.
Despite top mixed pair Steven Andrews and Jen Rigby prevailing in three sets over Churchtown’s Mark Rigby and Katie Dixon Turner in the opening encounter, this result seemed to spark the home side into life.
A three-set victory for Churchtown’s Joe Steele and Millie Hyde in the following contest along in all but one of the remaining contests has given Mawdesley a massive uphill if they are going to stay in contention for the league title.
Also joining Churchtown at the top with six wins out of six, are Victoria Hall and Woodvale. While Woodvale brushed aside Southport 7-1, it was a nervier affair for Victoria Hall against West End Park.
With all mixed doubles matches going to a deciding set and each team collecting two wins at the halfway point, there was confidence running through the veins of the underdogs. It took wins on both of the women’s doubles contests to separate the sides and Victoria Hall took home all the points with a 5-3 win.
With the title contenders starting to face-off against each other, that also means the battle for survival is also taking shape.
A 6-2 defeat over mid-table Churchtown II, now has Woodvale II as the sole remaining side yet to score a point.
That is due to the winning draw that second division champions Ormskirk managed to pull off against Southport II.
In the league’s fifth division, the battle for promotion continues to be as wide open as ever.
Leaders Southsands III survived the threat of Woodvale VII to collect a 5-3 away win.
Chomping at their heels, are Crosby II, Burscough Pioneers III and Churchtown V.
While Burscough Pioneers III comfortably came through Mawdesley’s fifth team 7-1, Crosby and Churchtown were facing off against each other.
Despite a strong start by Crosby, their opponents recovered well to not only finish level at 4-4, but get the extra point by ending the night with more sets won.
At the opposite end of the table, West End Park equalled their best result of the season in their 7-1 win over St. Cuthberts III.
As for bottom side Ormskirk IV, matching last season’s survival from the drop may be a tougher task then expected as they recorded their fifth defeat of the season in their 8-0 loss to Tarleton IV.
The dominance of Churchtown IV in the fourth division continues to astound everyone in the league after another 8-0 victory, this time over bottom half side Hesketh Bank II.
With no side coming close to testing them, this could very well be the first title to be confirmed of this season.
It was a tough week for fellow promotion chasers Ormskirk III and Mawdesley IV, who were both pushed to the limit against lower ranked sides.
While Ormskirk III claimed a winning draw over Tarleton III, Mawdesley IV did one better and claim all three points in their 5-3 victory over Southport V.
There was an all-St. Cuthberts affair. Claiming the bragging rights was their first team who secured a 7-1 win.
Churchtown’s control across the majority of the division continues, including division six.
A 7-1 home win over strugglers Hesketh Bank III makes it six wins out of six.
There was also success for other sides with aims of promotion in the form of Woodvale VIII and Southport IV.
While the latter produced a whitewash 8-0 win over their own seventh team, the former were made to work in their 5-3 away win over top half side Southsands IV.
After a couple of winning draws, Formby Methodist finally came through with their first three points of the season with a 6-2 victory against Burscough Pioneers IV.
There was another first, as bottom side St. Cuthberts IV secured their first point of the season. But it could have been more as it ended up being a losing draw against a Southsands V side, who move further away from the bottom two.
Division three saw
Woodvale IV reclaim top spot after a strong 7-1 win over bottom side Southport IV.
With their rearranged match against fellow promotion contenders looming, Woodvale know fully well that there are still teams out there that can threaten their place.
One of them is Tarleton II, who fought hard to collect an important 5-3 win at Ormskirk II.
Wins in the opening two mixed doubles matches gave Tarleton the early advantage, and despite Ormskirk’s fight and resilience, Tarleton did enough to maintain their lead for the rest of the contest.
Losing their position at the top was West End Park.
With not always being able to field their top side, the inconsistency of Southsands’ second team could cause a lot of problems for the top sides.
Meanwhile, Mawdesley III and Burscough Pioneers maintained their mid-table positions after overcoming the tests of Southport III and Woodvale V respectively.
In the league’s bottom division, Woodvale IX recovered well after losing to division leaders Churchtown VII by recording a 7-1 win over Southport VIII.
In other action, Crosby III kept pace with the promotion chasers after a strong 8-0 win over West End Park IV.
Next week sees teams turn their attention to their respective cup competitions.
With the first round done, it is now on to the quarter-finals and will be the first attempt for everyone at claiming some team silverware.
For more on the latest news and latest league tables, be sure to check out the league’s official website, www. southportbadminton.com.
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