This season’s Premier Division title of the H2Only Mixed League is being assigned at the end of a five-match tussle between the top two local clubs – Pawla Wolves Schtag and Birkirkara BC.
Two fixtures had been played so far, and both had gone the Paolites’ way. The third encounter was therefore to be the decisive one in that a win for the Wolves would have put the championship beyond their opponents’ reach.
However, the Paolites faltered at this last hurdle and B’Kara promptly profited from their adversaries’ indecision to take the match 3-2 and reopen the title race.
It was B’Kara captain Stefan Salomone who bagged the first point for his team by winning the initial Men’s Singles encounter 21/16 21/11 against Yogish Mistry.
However, Pawla Wolves Schtag struck back by taking the Ladies’ Singles through Didi Rasmayii who defeated Maria Borg in two clear sets: 21/8 21/7.
B’Kara regained the lead in the Men’s Doubles when Aldo Polidano/ Stefan Salomone had the better of David Cole / Yogish Mistry at the end of an exciting three-set thriller which finished 21/17 13/21 21/15.
The Wolves reacted promptly to put the match again on an even keel through Didi Rasamayii/Catherine Dimech who won their Ladies’ Doubles encounter 21/6 21/8 against Maria Borg / Fiorella Farrugia.
However, B’Kara were to have the final say. They scored their parting shot in the remaining Mixed Doubles which Robert Salomone/Fiorella Farrugia won 21/19 12/21 21/11 against Kenneth Vella / Catherine Dimech to secure an overall 3-2 victory for B’Kara.
First Division
The H2Only Mixed League has recently been enhanced with the start of its First Division. Three teams are competing for the title, with each fixture consisting of two Singles and two Doubles matches.
B’Kara bagged their first points of the season with a 3-1 win over Shuttles BC. The final score reflects the winners’ technical superiority, which the Shuttles tried vainly to neutralise.
Brian Zammit, Ivan Salomone and Martin Farrugia brought the match home for B’Kara while Charles Tabone and George Camilleri scored the Shuttles’ consolation point by winning their Men’s Doubles game.