Division 1 line-up never looked stronger

Winter League Preview of the fixtures in Divisions 1, 3 & 5 for Wednesday 29 October

I believe that we now have the strongest Division 1 eight teams that we have had in 6 years of the Winter League. With the promotion of Hanging Heaton A and Golcar Lib it looks like a very competitive division and may the best team win. Hanging Heaton A and the Golcar Lib team only lost one match between them all last season and look to continue that form in the top division this year.

Thorpe Green A are the defending Champions and along with Lower Hopton are both two-times winners of the Division 1 title. That record hasn't come easy and both teams will be aiming for more success at the top level. Cowcliffe were a surprise package last season finishing as runners-up in their first season in the top division. Those who said teams that had bowled at Milnsbridge in previous seasons had a big advantage should hang their heads in shame as Cowcliffe disproved that theory. Was it a one-off or are they set to improve further after a year's experience on the Milnsbridge green? I know where my money is!

The all-ladies New Mill A side have come third in each of the last two seasons and are a very consistent presence. Lindley BC A and Kirkheaton Con A finished last season in the bottom half of the table, but both have strengthened their squads for the coming season.

I cannot separate Thorpe Green A and Hanging Heaton A so am opting out of a single team selection for the top and going to name them as the top two in any order. It is equally difficult at the wrong end of the table as my head says my teammates at Kirkheaton Con A don't have the insurance of Melthem A and Lindley Lib A below them this season and are at serious risk. However I have to go for a surprise selection in adding Cowcliffe to my list to be relegated this season.

The Division 3 season is already well underway with Almondbury BC A showing no fear of the other 7 teams in their division who all finished last season at least three divisions higher than them. Along with Slaithwaite who were in Division 4 last season they are seting a hot pace at the top of the early table but crunch-time awaits this week as the top two face each other.

Denby Dale have already recovered the 10-point penalty they incurred for declining promotion at the end of last season and can now start to peck away at the lead the top teams have managed to tease out already. This Wednesday they play Lindley Lib B who came down from Division 2 from last season and have made a bright start to the 2025-26 season unbeaten in their two opening fixtures.

That is also true of Thorpe Green C who take on the Lockwood Con A team this week who have lost both their opening fixtures. Along with Springwood A and Lindley BC B who play each other with both teams looking for a first win of the season.

A delayed start to the Lindley Lib Division 5 season which begins this Wednesday with one new team to the League in Mirfield Old Bank. I have to say that comparing them to the rest of the Division 5 teams I quite fancy them to hit the League with a shock strong introduction to Winter bowling and I see them getting stronger as the season progresses as long as they don't get burdened down with the weight of expectation that comes with being my fancy to win the competition. It could well be a Mirfield double as the Mirfield A team could continue their improved form of last season which resulted in promotion.

I don't see any outstanding contenders among the other teams but despite that I do have a rather rash prediction about the two teams to go down at the end of the season. I just have a hunch that the two teams relegated from Division 4 last season - Thorpe Green B and Dalton may have further to drop this time around. So successive relegations for the two of them comes with no degree of confidence other than a hunch, which is not what I usually rely on at all.