WITH league matches now under way and some teams still finding their feet, reigning champions of the Westmorland Badminton Division One Branthwaite are certainly not one of them.

They have started with two big wins 17-1 and 15-3 to lead the league by four points from their main rivals St Lukes, who have also started well with wins of 16-2 and 12-6.

Strickland, who were promoted this year, are finding the going difficult with two 16-2 defeats.

Division Two is also topped by a team from Branthwaite as their A team have already established a lead of eight points with wins of 17-1 and 14-4, the latter of the new team St Lukes.

St Lukes had set off on winning note beating Grange 15-3 but have now found the league is tougher than first thought. Kendal A look like one of the teams that are going to struggle as they have already suffered two heavy defeats and are adrift at the bottom.

Sedbergh have established themselves as the team to beat in Division Three as they have beaten Strickland A 12-6 and Ambleside A 17-1.

Ingleton, who have rejoined the league this season, have got off to a mixed start by losing to Heversham B but bouncing back to beat Sedbergh A11-7.

Full Results

Division 1. Dalton 1, Branthwaite 17. Ambleside 6, St Lukes 12. St Lukes 16, Strickland 2. Kirkby Stephen 16, Strickland 2. Bowness 7, Ambleside 11. Branthwaite 15, Kirkby Stephen 3.

Division 2. StLukes A 15, Grange 3. Branthwaite B 10, Heversham 8. Heversham 15, Kendal A 3. Grange 14, Heversham A 4. Branthwaite A 14, St Lukes 4. Heversham A 4, Branthwaite B 14. Kendal A 1, Branthwaite A 17.

Division 3. Strickland A 6, Sedbergh 12. Ingleton 6, Strickland A 12. Heversham B 0, Strickland 18. Ambleside A 9, Bowness A 9. Bowness A 13, Sedbergh A 5. Sedbergh 17, Ambleside A 1. Sedbergh A 7, Ingleton 11.