Birkirkara live to fight another day

The Premier Division in the 2007 H2Only Mixed League is being contested by Pawla Wolves Schtag and Birkirkara on five matches.

As the opening two fixtures had gone the Paolites' way, the third encounter could have been decisive in that a win for the Wolves would have secured them the title. However, the Paolites failed to keep up the momentum of their first two outings and Birkirkara promptly profited to take the match 3-2 and re-open the title race.

It was Birkirkara captain Stefan Salomone who clinched the first point for his team by winning the singles match 21-16 21-11 against Yogish Mistry. However, Schtag struck back by taking the women's singles through Didi Rasmayii who beat Maria Borg, 21-8 21-7.

Birkirkara regained the lead in the men's doubles when Aldo Polidano and Stefan Salomone had the better of David Cole and Mistry at the end of an exciting three-set thriller - 21-17 13-21 21-15. The Wolves made it 2-2 through Rasamayii and Catherine Dimech. They won their doubles encounter against Borg and Fiorella Farrugia 21-6 21-8.

Birkirkara were to have the final say though. They scored their parting shot in the remaining Mixed Doubles which Robert Salomone and Fiorella Farrugia won 21-19 12-21 21-11 against Kenneth Vella and Dimech to secure a 3-2 victory.

Meanwhile, the H2Only Mixed League has recently been enhanced with the start of the First Division.

Three teams are competing for the title with each fixture consisting of two singles and two doubles matches.

Birkirkara bagged their first points of the season with a 3-1 win over Shuttles BC.

Brian Zammit, Ivan Salomone and Martin Farrugia brought the match home for Birkirkara while Charles Tabone and George Camilleri scored the Shuttles' consolation point by winning their doubles game.