WIRRAL Badminton League - an amalgamation of the former Birkenhead, Hoylake and Wallasey leagues - got under way in September with Barnston and St Peters sharing the distinction of playing in the first game of the new organisation.

Barnston took the points with a fine 6-2 win.

The switch from three leagues to one has impacted more severely on those clubs who used to play in all three leagues - and their opening results reflected the lost flexibility. An exception to this appears to be Upton Victory Hall, whose four teams appear to be holding their own after initial results.

Early results in the Premier Division suggest a gulf between the top and bottom halves of the table. The big three - Cheshire Oaks, Millbrook and Wallasey St James 'A' - look likely to dominate with Rock Ferry an interesting newcomer to the division, but yet to show their strength.

In the North divisions, BNFL have stormed to three wins in Division One, which suggest they will be strong candidates for Premier status if their small squad remains free from injury. Division Two looks a bit more competitive, although Upton Victory Hall have started particularly well, and a welcome return to form has seen The Oval also opening well with two wins. It's early days yet in Division Three, but Wexford are setting the pace with a brace of solid victories.

In Division One South, Capenhurst Vauxhall were motoring well, but crashed at Millbrook, albeit enjoying a tight struggle before going down 5-3. Having won the opening match of the new league, Barnston are resting on their laurels after that win, but face a tough battle at Irby this week. In Division Two, St James and Rock Ferry have both started with two convincing wins and look the teams to beat - their clash this week could be decisive.

West Kirby, with three straight wins in the opening weeks, look the team to beat in Division Three South, although Peninsula pushed them hard in a narrow 3-5 defeat.

RESULTS (up to and including October 9): Premier Division: Wallasey St James 'B' 4, Neston 4; St Andrews (Meols) 0, Millbrook/EPYC 8; Millbrook/EPYC 8, Neston 0. Division One North: Barnston 1, BNFL 7; Barnston 7, Wallasey St James 1; Irby 0, BNFL 8; Wallasey St James 0, Irby 8; BNFL 7, Claremount 'A' 1; DL Cheshire Oaks 5, Barnston 3. Division Two North: Neston 8, Moreton/Seacombe 'B' 0; Upton Victory Hall 'A' 8, Wallaby 0; St Peter's 7, Moreton/Seacombe 'B' 1; Peninsula 3, Oval 5; Oval 7, Moreton//Seacombe 'B' 1; Neston 3, Upton Victory Hall 'A' 5. Division Three North: Wexford 6, St Catherine's 2; Wexford 6, Rock Ferry 2; St James 4, St Catherine's 4; Upton Victory Hall 'B' 5, Claremount 'B' 3. Division One South: Barnston 'A' 6, St Peter's 2; Moreton/Seacombe 2, Capenhurst/Vauxhall 6; Irby 5, St Peter's 3; Moreton/Seacombe 3, Irby 5; Neston 2, Capenhurst/Vauxhall 6; Moreton/Seacombe 2, St Peter's 6; Millbrook/EPYC 5, Capenhurst/Vauxhall 3; Capenhurst/Vauxhall 7, Claremount 1. Division Two South: St James 6, Wexford 2; Hilbre 6, St James 2; Rock Ferry 8, Hilbre 0; St Catherine's 2, St James 6; Rock Ferry 7, Port Sunlight 1; St Andrews (Meols) 1, Wexford 7; Port Sunlight 2, Upton Victory Hall 'A' 6; Hilbre 5, St Catherine's 3. Division Three South: St Andrews (New Brighton) 1, Barnston 'B' 7; Oval 2, West Kirby 6; Peninsula 3, West Kirby 5; Upton Victory Hall 'B' 1, Oval 7; Wallaby 6, St Andrews (New Brighton) 2; West Kirby 8, Seaview 0.

FIXTURES: Week commencing Wednesday, October 13: Premier Division: St Andrews (Meols) v DL Cheshire Oaks (October 13); St Peter's v Wallasey St James 2 (15th); Rock Ferry v Millbrook/EPYC (19th). Division One North: Capenhurst Vauxhall v BNFL (15th); Moreton/Seacombe v Barnston (18th); Wallasey St James v Claremount 1 (18th); BNFL v Moreton/Seacombe 1 (19th). Division Two North: Wallaby v Peninsula (15th). Division Three North: Wexford v Irby 2 (15th). Division One South: Irby v Barnston (13th); Neston v St Peter's (14th). Division Two South: Hilbre v Port Sunlight (15th); St Catherine's v St Andrews, Meols (18th). Division Three South: Upton Victory Hall 2 v Seaview (14th); West Kirby v Upton Victory Hall 2 (15th).