Division 2 forecast looks strong

Winter League

Preview of the Tuesday fixtures in Divisions 2, 8 & 9

Division 2 teams begin their season at Cowcliffe on Tuesday and it looks a much more balanced competition without the two heavyweights of Hanging Heaton A and Golcar Lib who dominated proceedings last season. They swap places with Meltham A and Lindley Lib A who drop down a level. This is not a new experience for the Lindley Lib team as they have either been promoted or relegated between Divisions 1 and 2 in each of the four seasons they have been in the League. It would be easy to select them as my tip to continue that sequence with a third promotion in 5 seasons, and maybe I will.

However, their dropdown partners have stronger claims as this was a first relegation for Meltham A. The last time they were in Division 2 was 2021-22 when they won the title with a massive 113 points total after winning all 16 of their fixtures and are still the only team to do that in any Division.

The two teams coming up from Division 3 are New Mill B and Lowerhouses B. The 68 points that New Mill B accumulated to take the Division 3 title is the lowest total won by any title winning team in the history of the Winter League. Couple that fact with third-placed Lowerhouses B team's promotion was dependent on Denby Dale declining promotion. Add all this up and it is difficult to get excited about the two promoted teams' survival chances this season.

That leaves the four teams that remain in Division 2 for the coming season and the third-placed finishers from last season, Marsh United, who have strong claims. Take away the four matches they lost to the top two teams means that they only lost two other matches all last season and that sort of form should be good enough to get them over the line this season. They were the best of the rest last season behind the two runaway promoted teams and deserve my vote to win the title this year.

As to my selections to go down it is difficult to look away from Lowerhouses B's chances. They have commendably grasped the offer to take promotion not won on the green but it is a big ask to retain the level of performance that will be required to preserve their new status. For that reason they are my tip for the drop but I hope I am wrong. Good luck to all the teams and enjoy your winter bowling.

We have a top two clash in Division 8 as the two teams that finished 6th and 7th last season have started the new season with impressive winning records. The outcome of this match will provide some stronger guidance as to the longer-term promotion chances of both teams. Last season's Division 8 Champions, Golcar C&BC, continue to snip away at the 20-points penalty they incurred after declining promotion, and whilst it may not happen this week, it is only a matter of time before they move out of the relegation places.

That should be a wake-up call for the three teams still looking for their first victories of the new season. Two of those teams meet each other this Tuesday when Linthwaite Hall B meet Meltham B with lots at stake. Mirfield B versus Cowcliffe B completes the Tuesday programme with both teams nearer the relegation places than the promotion spots at present.

There are 7 new teams in Division 9, plus Kirkheaton C&BC B who finished bottom of Division 8 last season and paid the price with relegation. Things don't get any easier for them as they sit at the foot of the table with the club's C team taking top place after two matches played. The C team is going to be well tested this Tuesday as they take on 2nd placed (and my tip for the title) Marsh Lib B.

Kirkheaton C&BC B team have the opportunity to reduce the emerging gap to the mid-table spots when taking on Mirfield C who hold one of those positions at present. As do Kirkheaton Cons C and Almondbury BC C who meet up with both teams on the 8 points mark. Defeat could take the loser down into the murky depths of a relegation struggle as all the signs point towards us having a full-season Division 10 next year.

With the top two teams playing each other presents an opportunity for third-placed Greenhead Park to muscle in on the promotion chase. They will have to beat a Brockholes C team that has lost both their matches to date if that elevation is to stand a chance of coming to fruition.