AYRHSIRE MEN'S HANDICAP LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP - Irvine Ravenspark are the first club through to knockout stages

Irvine Ravenspark are the first club through to the knockout stages of the 2023 Ayrshire Men's Handicap League Championship after topping qualifying Section G.

Despite losing their penultimate tie by 4.5-1.5 away to Tam O Shanter, Ravenspark's 3.5-2.5 home win in their final fixture against Loudoun, coupled with Loudoun's 4-2 home win over Tam O Shanter, left Irvine Ravenspark clear at the top of the table

Final placings in Section G were:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
IRVINE RAVENSPARK	4	3	0	1	12.5	11.5	1.0	12
TAM O SHANTER	4	2	0	2	12.0	12.0	0.0	8
LOUDOUN	4	1	0	3	11.5	12.5	-1.0	4

Irvine Ravenspark now play the winners of Section C in the first round of the knockout stages.

In SECTION A, Ardeer lead the way following a 6-0 home win over Royal Troon in their last fixture.

With the results of three fixtures still to be recorded, the likely qualifier still remains unclear, with Ardeer having away ties against Kilbirnie Place and Royal Troon with Kilbirnie Place also having a home fixture against Kilmarnock Barassie.

Present positions in Section A are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
ARDEER	4	3	0	1	18.0	6.0	12.0	12
KILBIRNIE PLACE	4	2	0	2	13.5	10.5	3.0	8
KILMARNOCK BARASSIE	5	2	0	3	12.0	18.0	-6.0	8
ROYAL TROON	5	2	0	3	10.5	19.5	-9.0	8

In SECTION B, a 4-2 away win against Ayr Belleisle moved Alton clear at the top of the table though Prestwick St Cuthbert kept within touching distance with a home win over Ayr Belleisle by the same margin. 

Five results remain to be recorded, including home matches for Ayr Belleisle against Troon St Meddans and Prestwick St Cuthbert, ties for Alton at home to Troon St Meddans and away to Prestwick St Cuthbert, and Troon St Meddans' home match against Ayr Belleisle.

Present postions in Section B are:- 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
ALTON	4	2	2	0	13.5	10.5	3.0	12
PR. ST CUTHBERT	4	2	0	2	12.0	12.0	0.0	8
TROON ST MEDDANS	3	1	1	1	9.5	8.5	1.0	6
AYR BELLEISLE	3	0	1	2	7.0	11.0	-4.0	2

In SECTION C, Auchenharvie 88 can secure qualification with a draw or better in their final fixture at home to Ayr Seafield, though a defeat in the tie would give Ayr Seafield an opportunity to overtake them for the automatic qualification spot following Seafield's 3.5-2.5 away win over Stewarton recently. In the other outstanding fixture Stewarton host North beach to see who will finish in third and fourth places in the section.

Present positions in Section C are:- 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
AUCHENHARVIE 88	5	5	0	0	22.0	8.0	14.0	20
AYR SEAFIELD	5	4	0	1	21.0	9.0	12.0	16
NORTH BEACH	5	0	1	4	8.5	21.5	-13	2
STEWARTON	5	0	1	4	8.5	21.5	-13	2

In SECTION D, Ballochmyle and West Kilbride are tied at the top of the table, though Rowallan castle can still have a big influence on the qualification places with home fixtures against West Kilbride and Ballochmyle, and an away fixture against West Kilbride still to be recorded, while Ballochmyle also have an away fixture to Routenburn still to play.

Present positions in Section D are:- 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
BALLOCHMYLE	4	3	0	1	16.0	8.0	8.0	12
WEST KILBRIDE	4	3	0	1	13.0	11.0	2.0	12
ROUTENBURN	5	1	0	4	13.5	16.5	-3.0	4
ROWALLAN CASTLE	3	1	0	2	5.5	12.5	-7.0	4

In SECTION E, a 5-1 home win over Caprington recently moved Prestwick St Nicholas into joint top spot in the table. Both Annanhill and Prestwick St Nicholas have away ties at Moorpark still to be recorded, while Prestwick St Nicholas also have the result of a trip to Caprington to be included in their record.

Present positions in Section E are:- 

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
PR. ST NICHOLAS	4	3	0	1	14.5	9.5	5.0	12
ANNANHILL	5	3	0	2	16.5	13.5	3.0	12
CAPRINGTON	5	2	0	3	13.0	17.0	-4.0	8
MOORPARK	4	1	0	3	10.0	14.0	-4.0	4

In SECTION F, a 3-3 home draw with Redburn has moved Portmann just ahead of Troon Welbeck in the table, after confirmation of Troon Welbeck's home win by 3.5-2.5 over Troon Portland and their recent 4-2 defeat away to Redburn.

Still to be recorded are Troon Portland's home fixtures against Troon Welbeck, redburn and Portmann, as is Troon Welbeck's home fixture against Portmann and Redburn's home match against Troon Portland.

Present positions in Section F are:-

	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
PORTMANN	4	2	2	0	15.0	9.0	6.0	12
TROON WELBECK	4	2	1	1	12.5	11.5	1.0	10
REDBURN	4	1	1	2	11.5	12.5	-1.0	6
TROON PORTLAND	2	0	0	2	3.0	9.0	-6.0	0