SOUTHPORT BADMINTON LEAGUE

IT has been a couple of weeks to forget for defending first division champions Victoria Hall.

They have suffered consecutive defeats with a 5-3 loss to a Churchtown side that is not looking to fall out of the title race anytime soon in what was an action-packed week 9 of the ‘MKM Building Supplies’ Southport and District Badminton League.

With leaders Woodvale beginning to pull away from their nearest rivals, this was an opportunity for Churchtown or Victoria Hall to realistically remain within the title picture. Along with both sides being crowned division champions for the past four seasons, the pressure was certainly on for two highly accomplished sides.

The mixed doubles had both sides looking strong and capable of winning this contest with Churchtown and Victoria Hall each collecting two victories to add to their slate. Despite form suggesting the contest would end up being a draw, it was Churchtown that found a way.

A dramatic three-set win by men’s doubles pair Nick Hodgson and Joe Steele over Victoria Hall’s Matthew

Tolman and Daniel Wolfenden 18-21, 21-17, 21-19 as well as a comfortable straight-sets win for Andrew Owen and Andrew Rigby was of an advantage to keep for a well fought win that keeps them in the chat of title contenders.

As for Victoria Hall, this defeat has not only forced them to having a perfect second half of the season but not give ideal preparation for next week’s Hudson Cup final against Woodvale.

As for the division one leaders, the wins keep on coming as they pulled through top half side Tarleton 6-2. It was not without a bit of resistance by the top half side as Tarleton as they managed to claim two wins in the mixed doubles. However, that saw Woodvale move up a few gears and never look back with a what was in the end a comfortable victory.

Meanwhile, fifth place side Crosby quickly saw off Southport 7-1 and Westsands battled past Churchtown’s second team 5-3 in a week that now sees the strugglers drop into the bottom two. This is due to the 8-0 win by Ormskirk over their own second team. This second wino of the season moves them up into eighth place and away from the relegation zone for the time being.

In the second division, despite both of the top two winning this past week, there has been a change in division leader. This is due to the strength of victory as Crosby II put in a strong display to topple bottom half side Tarleton III 8-0.

That effort was not quite matched by nearest rivals Woodvale II as they were pushed to the limit in their 5-3 away over fourth place

Tarleton II. Wins in both of the ladies doubles was the factor in Woodvale extending their unbeaten record. But the narrow win was not enough to strengthen their event difference enough to maintain their lead over Crosby.

It was a similar outing for third place Churchtown III, who battled bottom side Westsands III 5-3. Despite the best efforts of Westsands who looked on course to capitalise on a weakened Churchtown being fielded, they suffered a heart-breaking loss. A well fought three-set win for women’s doubles pair Maisie Rydill and Rashmi Hickey over Sara Draper and Beth Swash 22-24, 21-19, 21-12 confirmed the win and kept their hopes of promotion alive.

Meanwhile, nothing could separate mid-table sides Southport II and Westsands II as they ended up locked in a 4-4 draw. Despite Westsands moving into 3-1 lead after the mixed doubles, Southport responded well to earn a point to keep their sixth place in the table.

The third division took a dramatic twist in the promotion as Woodvale III fell 5-3 to their own fourth team. Despite both sides at opposite ends of the table, the lower of the two teams produced an inspiration to take a side from their club that have aims of promotion.

But with Woodvale III missing a few of their regular players, this levelled the playing field and ended up being a tight and tense affair. It ended up seeing over half of the matches going to a deciding set and Woodvale’s fourth team came up trumps in the majority of them to record a result that could effect their own third teams hopes of promotion.

This result now sees Woodvale III move down into third, after a 7-1 home win by Ormskirk III over mid-table side Southport III moves Ormskirk into the promotion places.

Along with Southport going into the match with only three men, Ormskirk’s third team made the most of this advantage and go into the Christmas break in prime position to move into the second division for the first time in their history.

For leaders Hesketh Bank, they now move four points clear from the rest of the division after they comfortably saw off Burscough Pioneers’ first team 6-2.

Elsewhere, bottom side Tarleton IV remain winless as they were white-washed 8-0 by a St. Cuthberts team that look set on a top half finish.

After last week’s draw with Formby stopped their perfect winning record, fourth division leaders St. Cuthberts II suffered the same fate this week with a 4-4 draw against mid-table side Woodvale V.

With both sides missing a few of their regulars, opportunities were there to be taken. The opening exchanges saw Woodvale force the division leaders into finding a few extra gears, as a couple three-set wins for the underdogs saw the match level at 2-2 at the halfway point.

Despite opportunities being there for both sides to claim all the points, they remained locked throughout the contest and a point apiece is how it ended.

The week continued to belong to the chasing pack, as fellow promotion residents Burscough Pioneers fell 5-3 to Formby’s first team. After being the first team to get something from leaders St. Cuthberts II, the awkward follow-up match managed to see Formby go one better than last week and upset the second place side.

A number of ruthless performances in the mixed doubles along with a couple of crucial three-set victories in the women’s doubles gave Formby their fifth win of the season.

This result also sees them now only two points off a promotion spot.

In other fourth division action, the ladies of Southport IV helped secure a memorable 5-3 away victory over Westsands V in a match that looked destined for a draw. That victory puts Southport on the bubble of the promotion spots.

Meanwhile, a comfortable 6-2 away win sees Westsands IV move into the top half of the table against a Churchtown V side that remain on the bubble of relegation.

Outside of the top four divisions, only one other match took place. That came from the league’s sixth division, as Churchtown’s sixth team now move ten points clear at the top of the division after a well fought 7-1 home win over fourth place side Westsands VI.

While the result completed Churchtown’s perfect first half of the season, a number of bouts going to a deciding set showed great fight from the lower ranked side. Sadly for Westsands, their only rewarded effort came from mixed doubles pair Graeme Neale and Lee Ryding over Churchtown’s Jack Craven and Harriet Lane 21-11, 14-21, 21-10.

Despite the loss, Westsands remain in the mix for the second promotion spot behind this dominant Churchtown team that could secure promotion by the end of January.

Next week sees a mixture of competitions involved.

However, taking centre stage will be the five cup finals as the first bit of team silverware will be up for grabs.

There will also be a few second round matches from the Watkinson Trophy as well as a few preliminary round matches in the various Shield competitions and some rearranged league encounters.

For all the latest news and league tables, be sure to check out their official website, HYPERLINK “http://www. southportbadminton.com” www.southportbadminton. com. Also, make sure you like the league’s official Facebook page.

DIVISION 1 Team Woodvale I Victoria Hall I Churchtown I Tarleton I Crosby I Southport I Westsands I Ormskirk I Churchtown II Ormskirk II

DIVISION 2 Team

Crosby II Woodvale II Churchtown III Tarleton II Westsands II Southport II Mawdesley I Tarleton III Victoria Hall II Westsands III

DIVISION 3

Team

Hesketh Bank I Ormskirk III Woodvale III

St. Cuthberts I Burscough Pioneers I Southport III Woodvale IV Churchtown IV Tarleton IV Mawdesley II

DIVISION 4

Team

St. Cuthberts II Burscough Pioneers II Southport IV

Formby I

Westsands IV Woodvale V Westsands V Churchtown V

Crosby III

Woodvale VI

DIVISION 5

Team

Formby Methodist Mawdesley III Hesketh Bank II

St. Cuthberts III Hesketh Bank III Southport V

DIVISION 6 Team Churchtown VI Formby II Woodvale VII Westsands VI Churchtown VII Southport VI

P 9 9 8 9 8 9 9 8 9 8

P 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 9 8 9

P 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 9 8

P 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 9 7 8

P 7 8 8 7 8 8

P 8 8 8 7 7 8

W 9 7 7 5 4 3 3 2 1 0

W 8 8 6 5 4 3 3 3 1 0

W 8 6 6 5 3 3 3 3 0 0

W 7 6 5 5 4 4 2 1 1 0

W 6 6 5 3 2 0

W 8 4 4 3 1 0

D 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0

D 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0

D 0 2 1 0 2 2 1 1 3 2

D 2 1 3 2 2 1 1 2 0 2

D 1 1 0 0 0 0

D 0 2 1 1 1 1

L 0 2 1 4 3 5 6 5 7 8

L 0 0 2 4 3 5 5 6 7 9

L 1 1 2 4 4 4 5 4 6 6

L 0 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 6

L 0 1 3 4 6 8

L 0 2 3 3 5 7

ED +48 +42 +42 +12 +6 -28 -20 -22 -24 -56

ED +34 +30 +24 +16 +12 -10 -18 -24 -16 -48

ED +34 +26 +20 +6 -6 -10 -8 -12 -12 -28

ED +42 +22 +4 +10 +2 +10 -16 -26 -16 -32

ED +32 +20 +16 -4 -20 -44

ED +48 0 +2 0 -18 -32

Pts 27 21 21 15 13 10 9 7 4 0

Pts 25 25 19 15 14 10 9 9 3 0

Pts 24 20 19 15 11 11 10 10 3 2

Pts 23 19 18 17 14 12 7 5 3 2

Pts 19 19 15 9 6 0

Pts 24 14 13 10 4 1