Wirral Badminton League with David Spencer

THERE were no matches in the Premier Division this week, but two clubs heading for the top flight re-stated their cases.

Both Barnston and Wallasey St James enjoyed 7-1 wins to maintain their 100 per cent records at the top of Divisions One North and South, respectively.

Barnston, already the first club to win a division this year, were joined by Wallasey St James 2nd team when they won at Capenhurst Vauxhall. Both cannot be caught on remaining matches, so long as they are played without penalty.

The tight battle at the top of Division Two North swung slightly in favour of the Wallasey St James third team, who also travelled to the previously unbeaten Capenhurst Vauxhall - and returned with a 5-3 victory. Karl and Janet Bergh secured two wins each, backed by another double from Bridget Mason to take both points.

The two teams are level on points dropped, but the Wallasey side hold a slight advantage on events won, a position aided by the Chester side playing a lady short in their 5-2 win against St Peter's, who played a man short.

The extremely close struggle for honours in Division Three North edged towards Seaview, who hit the top for the first time with a 6-2 win against early leaders Barnston, who played a man short.

Irby slipped into second place when held to a 4-4 draw by Upton Victory Hall 'B' in a match that could have gone either way, but two wins each for Derek Mason and Jonathan Geller took Irby off the top, despite similar results by Mike Howard and Geoff Dewhurst.

Peninsula continue to head Division Three South. Wallaby's 6-2 success at Upton Victory Hall 'C' still leaves them a couple of points adrift in second place.

RESULTS: Week-ending Friday, February 24: Division One North: Moreton/Seacombe 'A' 3, Upton Victory Hall 'A' 5; Barnston 7, Claremount 1; Oval 0, Rock Ferry 8. Division Two North: Capenhurst Vauxhall 3, Wallasey St James 5; Capenhurst Vauxhall 5, St Peter's 2; Wallasey St James 8, St Andrew's (Meols) 0. Division Three North: St Catherine's 6, Claremount 2; Irby 4, Upton Victory Hall 'B' 4; Seaview 6, Barnston 2. Division One South: Capenhurst Vauxhall 1, Wallasey St James 7; Neston 6, Irby 2; St Peter's 6, Millbrook 2. Division Two South: Claremount 5, St Catherine's 3. Division Three South: Upton Victory Hall 'C' 2, Wallaby 6.