Winter League
A review of the matches played at Milnsbridge on Wednesday 26 January 2022
Lower Hopton are the first Champions of Division 1 of the Winter League with 2 matches to spare in their first season in the League. Needing 5 points from their fixture on Wednesday against Clayton West they obliged with a 5-3 win to retain their 100% winning record. As it worked out with Kirkheaton Con dropping 2 points against Lowershouses 'A' 4 points would have been sufficient.
All credit to Clayton West as they pushed the Champions all the way and they are the first team to take 3 points off them in a match all season. But there was no stopping the juggernaut that has become the runaway to the title and they are worthy winners with a 19-point lead at the top and 2 matches left to play for the major players so cannot be overtaken. Congratulations to Lower Hopton. There will be a formal presentation of the Founder's Cup to them at Milnsbridge before the final day's matches of the Division 1 season which is Wednesday 9 February.
Despite that result, Clayton West are now out of the running for the runners-up spot with only one match left to play and they are 9-points behind Kirkheaton Con who are currently second in the table. The New Millers are just a point behind the Cons and both have two left to play with next Wednesday's meeting between Kirkheaton and Lower Hopton growing in significance. On Wednesday Kirkheaton Cons maintained their push for second place with a 6-2 win over Lowerhouses 'A' which wasn't enough for the Lowerhouses side to celebrate escape from relegation and their future remains very much in the balance.
The New Millers have moved smoothly into the range of Kirkheaton Cons and are now just a point behind them. Since the turn of the year, the New Millers have won all four of their league matches, three of them by the 8-0 scoreline including their latest whitewash win being over Lindley BC 'A' who they now overtake in the updated table. The Lindley side still has a mathematical chance of securing second place but it will require a combination of unlikely results for that to happen. However, since they were campaigning to start the season in Division 2 they have more than justified the decision to place them at the top level.
Rastrick 'A' will be pleased to see the end of their annus horribilis and start again next year after their 14th straight defeat and no points to add to their total this week after going down to Thorpe Green 'A'. That 8-points means that Thorpe Green 'A' are mathematically safe from relegation this season leaving the 'A' teams from Lowerhouses and Milnsbridge to fight it out for the dubious honour of claiming the second relegation place.
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