A pivotal day in Division 8 chase

Winter League

Preview of the Tuesday fixtures in Divisions 8 & 9

Golcar C&BC incurred a 20 points penalty for declining promotion last season.

We have a pivotal day in the Division 8 season this Tuesday as the breakaway trio of teams at the top of the table come up for scrutiny. Two of the top three face opponents leading the charge to dislodge them although they have the security of a 12 point gap at present. The two team chasing pack are Cowcliffe C and Meltham B who are both on 10 points. That is 12 points behind third-placed Lockwood Con C who face Cowcliffe C this week. If that gap is to be closed at all then it must start this week as anything other than a win for the Cowcliffe team would surely make the gap too big a burden to reduce any time soon. But maybe all the pressure is on the Lockwood Con C team as they need a win to stay in touch with the top pair.

The same applies to second-placed Hemplow A who have to play Meltham B who are on the same 10 points mark as the Lockwood team. Again defeat for the chasers would signify a hopeless case could be halted before it had got up a head of steam. This may be a real opportunity for the leaders, Broad Oak B, to put some daylight between themselves and the two other leading teams when they take on Linthwaite Hall B who have struggled to recover last years's form which included an 8-0 win over Tuesday's opponents.

Golcar C&BC reached a milestone last week when cancelling out the 20-points penalty they incurred for declining promotion last season. Their points total will surely come into a positive number this week when they play Mirfield B and begin the anticipated climb up the table.

There is a top two clash in Division 9 this week as the two teams tied on 24 points meet each other as the new leaders, Greenhead Park, play the inform Kirkheaton Con C team. The Kirkheaton team have been involved in four 8-0 scorelines in their four fixtures to date. Winning three of them to recover from the opening day reversal at the hands of the Mirfield C team. Tuesday's meeting will be their strongest test to date as Greenhead Park hold the division's only unbeaten record and that is something they will not relinquish lightly.

A close result in that top-of-the-table clash could open the door for Kirkheaton C&BC C to move into stronger contention. They play bottom of the table Brockholes C this week and must be looking for a maximum scoreline win to take full advantage of the top two meeting. There is a mid-table fixture as 4th placed Marsh Lib B play Mirfield C who are 2 points and one place behind them in the table. The meeting of two strugglers, Kirkheaton C&BC B and Almondbury BC C, completes the Tuesday programme, although both teams can point to the fact that the two teams immediately above them are within catching distance and maybe they will. Enjoy your Winter bowling and the cakes and buns as well of course.