Ladies Works League
In the last season of action (2019) Brook Hansen 'A' and Strait Kutz Hairdressers had opposite outcomes. Brook Hansen having an 11-3 win record whereas Strait Kutz finished with a 3-11 record. So the opening day Division 1 meeting of the two teams was expected to go the way of the home side especially as they completed the double over them last time out. Well, the end result was the same but that is only half the tale as Strait Kutz pushed them all the way on their opponent's own green. Strait Kutz won 5 of the 8 games and the 136-137 aggregate score tells its own story. That was the first result logged on Bowlsnet for the 2021 campaign signaling a possible shift in standing and that remains to be seen.
On the same Monday evening the reigning Champions, Alicia Dawn Photography, also opened the defence of the title with a convincing performance at the new Moldgreen home for the renamed Huddersfield Recreation Club (formerly Canalside). Winning 6 of the 8 games to run out 160-131 victors and that certainly points to no shift in positions as they laid out their intent in no uncertain manner. The newly-promoted Recreation Club could hardly have started out with a more difficult fixture and they will look to build on this experience knowing that it is unlikely to get any more difficult than this to win a match.
We still await the result of Friday's Division 1 match between Atkinson Butchers and PEG Perego so time to move on to the 4 Division 2 fixtures played last week.
Another very close scoreline in the opening day Division 2 fixture when Holmes Dresser edged the traditional tight game against Pearce Displays, this time by 131-130. Even winning on their opponent's home green isn't a surprise as they did the double over them last season (2019) but the teams continued to fight out a mid-table battle between them with identical Won-8 Lost-8 season-long records then and nothing looks to have changed.
Colne Valley Garden Centre played two games last week and lost both but will have been heartened by an improved performance in the second of those games against Paul's Kitchens. Paul's Kitchens were relegated from Division 1 last time around but that was a little harsh as their best form came in the final 5 games of the season winning 3 of them and a replication of that form is expected to see them feature among the front runners this season.
D.Haigh & Co. started the new season with a couple of strong showings and were rewarded with two wins. This being very different to last season when they began the season with 3 straight defeats so already they are primed to improve on last season's finishing position of third place. Starting off with an away win at Colne Valley Garden Centre and following that up with introducing new team personalise HR to the league when beating them 148-122.
That was a creditable opening performance from the new team under truly atrocious weather conditions which must have introduced doubt into their player's minds about the wisdom of entering the competition. That will undoubtedly change over the season and more showings like this will inevitably bring its rewards. personalise HR are playing home matches at Springwood where they are delighted to have a ladies team as that it something that they haven't had for many years. That opening performance brought the following comment from Springwood Committee member Mike Ralph
'I'd just like to say well done to the personalise HR team based at Springwood.
This is a newly formed team with several novice bowlers and a skip new to the thankless task of captaincy. They bowled their first match at Brockholes on Tuesday evening and in spite of the cold, the torrential rain, even thunder and lightning, managed to score a creditable 122 points. Well done ladies! You are the epitome of what our sport needs, and good luck in the future.' Mike Ralph, Springwood BC Committee member
HuddWeb is now providing weekly postings covering the Matchday Preview and Results Round-Up for 6 local bowling leagues - the Huddersfield Saturday League, Mirfield League, Ladies Works League, Veterans 10-Man League, Veterans 6-Man League and the Huddersfield Winter League. Trying to fill the gap left by The Examiner.