Wolves off to winning start

This season's badminton Mixed League is made up of the Premier and First Divisions.

In the Premier Division, the top two local teams - defending champions Pawla Wolves Assikura and Birkirkara BC - will be playing each other five times to determine the national champion.

The first of this series at the Cottonera Sports Complex went the Wolves' way. However, despite the 4-1 scoreline, it was a balanced affair with four games going to three sets.

Ironically, it was Birkirkara who scored the first point through Stefan Salomone who had the better of Kenneth Vella 10-21, 21-16, 21-13.

However, the Wolves quickly put the match on an even keel by taking the women's singles through Didi Rasamayii. She beat Maria Borg 15-21, 26-24, 21-14.

The champions went ahead for the first time in the match by clinching the men's doubles through Kenneth Vella and David Cole. After losing the opening set 12-21 to brothers Robert and Stefan Salomone, the Wolves duo recovered well to take the next two sets 21-15 and 21-19.

Pawla put the match beyond their opponents' reach by winning the women's doubles through Rasamayii and Catherine Dimech who beat Borg/Fiorella Farrugia 17-21, 21/16, 21/17.

With the score reading 3-1, the mixed doubles tie was awarded to the Wolves since Robert Salomone was unable to play due to injury.