Chasing pack close in on Division 3 leaders

Winter League

Three teams moved closer to the top of the table as the leaders, Rastrick 'B' were held to a 4-4 draw by mid-table Lindley BC 'B' this Monday. Brockholes, Thorpe Green 'C' and Milnsbridge 'B' all won this week and are within a good win of the leaders not forgetting Lindley BC 'B' who are also within striking distance of topspot.

The Rastrick v Lindley BC clash went down to the wire with the points split between the two teams after the Pairs was won 21-10 by the Rastrick side and the first Singles game taken 21-16 by Lindley BC it all hinged on the final Singles game between the two team captains, Peter Fuller for Lindley BC and Graham Hall for Rastrick as they played out a high quality and close encounter. With Peter leading 15-9 the result was heading for an upset but a great fightback saw Graham draw level at 20-20 as focus turned to the final two bowlers left on the green with the early sunshine replaced by a grey backdrop.

At the final end, Graham led to leave his first wood a yard from the jack. Peter's first attempt fell 3 yards short and left Graham in prime position as he stepped up to deliver his second wood. Then disaster as he knocked his opponent's short wood up to 6inches from the jack enabling Peter to carry his final wood and take the match 21-20. A tense and enthralling finish to a good match leaving Lindley taking the game count 2-1 but losing the aggregate 57-52 to leave the two teams locked together in a 4-4 draw. Great stuff!

This outcome enabled the major challengers to close in on the leaders as Brockholes moved into second position with a 6-2 win over Huddersfield Recreation Club 'B' to build on their previous week's win over the leaders. An 8-0 whitewash win for Thorpe Green 'C' over bottom team Springwood 'B' moved them into contention in third place and Milnsbridge 'B' made it 3 wins out of 4 by beating Dalton 6-2 to go fourth just 6 points behind the leaders with a match in hand. It is all leading to a close contest with a number of prime contenders and lots of close encounters still to come no doubt.