Early days but big changes afoot

Winter League

Review of the results for Divisions 1&3 matches played on Wednesday 28 October

Well that is a league table you don't see very often - Thorpe Green A bottom of the pile! Three-time winner of the Winter League Division 1 title and the reigning Champions lost their opening match of the season 2-6 to their biggest rival for the title, Lower Hopton. They started well enough in the pairs game as the Thorpe Green pair inflicted a rare pairs defeat on their big rival and took a 21-2 lead at that time. That just stung the Lower Hopton team into action as they won both the singles games to single figures to take the aggregate as well 44-38 and an opening day 6-2 win. Seeing as the Thorpe Green team only lost one match all last season, this is a setback to their title retention plan.

All four Wednesday fixtures finished with the 6-2 scoreline so relying on the better Aggregate For scores to separate the teams in the new table. The two promoted teams had different opening day experiences as Clayton West were returning to this level after a two-season sabbatical in Division 2 where they eventually regrouped and took that Division's title in style to deservedly gain promotion. A narrow 47-46 aggregate win enabled them to beat Lindley BC A 6-2 and they now sit third in the first table of the year. Different story for New Mill B operating at the top table for the first time and going down 2-6 to last season's third-placed finishers Cowcliffe A.

Hanging Heaton A went down narrowly on the aggregate scores 54-56 to the ever-reliable New Mill A which is in direct contrast to last season when Hanging Heaton completed a double over the all-ladies team. One thing all the teams had in common was their opinion of the surface at Lindley Lib which was in immaculate condition. Those doubters that tell to that Winter bowling is damaging the greens need to take a look at Lindley Lib where they are playing their fifth successive season of all-year-round bowling.

Scroll down for the review of Division 3 matches played on Wednesday

Use the side arrows to scroll through all 15 action photos from the Division 1 programme

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DIVISION 3 REVIEW

Just two matches played and already the Division 3 table is split into two distinct halves with four teams in each. In the top half, all four teams have won 2 out of 2 with Mirfield Old Bank leading the way after a 6-2 win over Almondbury BC B. A rare 5-3 scoreline after a drawn aggregate scoreline of 47-47 between Milnsbridge A and Elland WMC pushed the Milnsbridge team into second place whilst the Elland side head the bottom half quartet.

Lockwood Con A and Lindley Lib B make up the numbers in the top half after 6-2 wins over Primrose Hill Lib and Lowerhouses B respectively. It is early days of course but the signs point to four teams all involved in a promotion chase and the other four all looking to avoid the drop. That should concentrate the minds of all eight team captains.