3 New teams needed for Division 10 now

Winter League

Following last week's announcement of an extension of the Division 10 season we are now looking for three new teams to join the 5 teams that have agreed to extend their playing season starting the first Monday in January and playing for 7 Mondays.

The original setup was to take advantage of a bumper list of 17 new teams coming forward to join the League. The first 8 applications went into a new Division 9 playing a full 14-week season at Paddock I&C and that rumbles on and is going well. The next 8 teams included some applying after the deadline date and without a second new host green they were all added to the waiting list for a start next October in the 2026-27 season. However that was all overtaken when Lindley Lib offered to host a 7-week season up to December to allow the 8 new teams to taste what Winter bowling is all about.

Netherton Con have subsequently offered to host a second day a week of bowling on their green to enable the Division 10 teams to complete a full 14-week season. Unfortunately not all 8 of the Division 10 teams are in a position to support a further 7-week programme. Mainly due to team members having booked holidays in the New Year so producing difficulties in raising full teams. Some say that they don't expect that to be a problem in future years.

The teams withdrawing are the two Lindley Lib teams, D and E. Then Hemplow B are also standing down. That leaves five of the current teams remaining in action and they are Rastrick, Thongsbridge, Skel Windmill, Outlane B and Brockholes D.

So we are now looking for three new teams to take over the positions of the three teams withdrawing and fill the gaps starting on Monday 5 January and playing for 7 Mondays until Monday 16 February. The three new teams will inherit the playing records of the three teams withdrawing. The first team to successfully apply to take one of the vacancies will take the position of the highest placed vacancy at the time of application. Currently that is Hemplow B. The second applicant will inherit the playing record of Lindley Lib D and then Lindley Lib E will provide a starting point for the third successful new team application.

As an added incentive all bowlers in the 8 teams in Division 10 after Christmas will be eligible to enter the League's two Knock-Out competitions. That is the Pairs KO and the Winter Cup for individual bowlers after they have played the compulsory one League match to become fully eligible to enter these KO competitions. Entries are currently open for bowlers to enter the Pairs KO with the Division 10 Qualifying Round in February. Full details here

Teams in Division 10 at the end of the season are considered to be full members of the League for the following 2026-27 season (dependent on a 10th host club coming forward).

Any team wishing to join the Winter League's Division 10 for the rest of the season should contact the League Secretary, Jeff Jacklin by email at jefftheref2000@yahoo.co.uk or by phone to 07968 171 197. Same contact details if you need any more details about the League.

Remember the sooner you get your application in the higher up the table the team you are replacing will be and you will inherit their playing record going into the second half of the season.

This is how Division 10 teams are placed at present.