Winter League
Review of the final day of the Division 1 season at Milnsbridge on Wednesday 8 February
Lower Hopton, Winter League Champions 2022-23 Left to right: Martin Greenwood, Les Holmes, Graham Hirst and Roger Stopford Les Holmes is holding the Founders Cup and Graham Hirst has the Founders Trophy
Congratulations to Lower Hopton on retaining the Winter League's Division 1 title after a final day climax where Thorpe Green 'A' continued to push them all the way as they have done all through the season.
Lower Hopton had to win all three legs of their final game to match their rivals' total. Both teams registered 8-0 wins so no change in the running order as Lower Hopton hung on to their one-point lead to claim the title for a second time.
Should Thorpe Green analyse where they think they lost the title they may want to dwell on the 3-5 defeat to Lindley BC 'A' which was the Lindley team's only win of the season.
Things were also very close at the other end of the table with four teams fighting to avoid the second relegation place to accompany Lindley BC 'A' down into Division 2
After a day of fluctuating fortunes and advanced maths Lindley Lib 'A' made up 2 of the 4 points they were adrift of safety but that proved to be too big a gap to close entirely. So they lost out to make a swift return to Division 2 despite a valiant rearguard fighting 4-4 draw with Kirkheaton Con.
Lower Hopton bowler Graham Hirst also reclaimed the division's Top Bowler award that he won last year with a final day win to confirm his superiority over Ian Briggs who moved up a place and Lorraine Hirst who lost her last game of the season to slip a place to third. The Top 12 Bowlers in Division 1 included the four Lower Hopton bowlers who have played the most games this season with the full listing below.
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