League title battles continue on all fronts as time runs out

4:16pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

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THE Wirral Badminton League enters the final few weeks of league matches with the unusual situation of not being able to identify one certain winner of any of the seven divisions.

There are some strong favourites, but after a weekend of football FA Cup upsets nothing can be taken for granted, and there is literally everything to play for throughout the divisions, so players should remember that every set for or against is important, if not to their own club, to those chasing the titles or striving to avoid relegation.

The Premier League title battle rolls on with Millbrook closing the gap at the top with a 16-0 win over Neston, who could be dragged back into the relegation positions if they also lose heavily to rivals St Peters, but do have a game in hand against bottom club St Andrews (Meols).

Barnston are still hot favourites to win Division One North, but close matches at the foot of the table saw the bottom two clubs, Moreton/Seacombe and Oval, both record good 10-8 wins over their closest rivals, although possibly not good enough to escape relegation.

Mark McCully, Dave Ford, Helen Keeg and Fiona Kemp were chief contributors to Oval's first win of the season.

The Division Two North table might have a sting in the tail as seemingly runaway leaders St Peters were 3-14 losers at Rock Ferry, who also beat St Andrews/Peninsula 16-0 and now sit in second place, still 21 points behind but with two games in hand.

The Division Three North title seems wide open, with just a few matches to play. Current leaders Claremount have a 20 point advantage over St Andrews (Meols) and meet them this week in what effectively may be the pivotal match, although it cannot finally settle things.

Claremount reinforced their bid with a 16-1 win at Wallasey St James, which followed a great 11-7 victory over Upton VH, with Ben Augor, Peter Sutton, Lesley Cubbin and Kerry Davies all turning in unbeaten scores.

Wexford also catch the eye with a rapid hat-trick of wins that moves them into a comfortable mid-table slot.

Moreton/Seacombe particularly deserve a mention for the first completion of fixtures this season, even more creditable as it was in Division One South, which has 14 fixtures.

Andy Brown recorded four points in their 8-11 defeat at Barnston, but they now wait anxiously to see if they remain ahead of the only two teams below them, St James and Wexford.

Capenhurst Vauxhall flashed a warning that they are not yet out of the promotion fight with a good 15-6 success over Claremount.

The top of Division Two South is also close with St Peters notching a 16-2 at St Catherine's that gives them a slight advantage over St Andrews (Meols), whose 15-4 win over Irby kept them close, just four points behind.

The other club in contention, The Oval, has to play both so watch this space!

Division Three South seems to mainly be between Watergate and Rock Ferry, who meet in the last match of the season, but the backlog of Seaview fixtures may affect the outcome - and leaves a question-mark.

RESULTS (to March 7): Premier League:Millbrook 16, Neston 0; BNFL 14, St Peters 7.Division One North:Moreton/Seacombe 10, Capenhurst Vauxhall 8; Oval 10, Neston 8.Division Two North:Seaview 5, St Peters 13; Rock Ferry 16, St Andrews/Peninsula 0; Barnston 5, Seaview 14; Rock Ferry 14, St Peters 3.Division Three North:Wexford 11, Wallaby 8; Upton VH B' 7, Claremount 11; Moreton/Seacombe 1, Wexford 16; Wallasey St James 1, Claremount B' 16; Wexford 16, Moreton Seacombe 0.Division One South:Capenhurst Vauxhall 15, Claremount 6; Barnston 11, Moreton/Seacombe 8.Division Two South:St Catherine's 2, St Peters 16; St Andrews (Meols) 15, Irby/Beresford 4; St Catherine's 13, Port Sunlight 7.Division Three South:West Kirby 5, Upton VH 'B' 12.