Winter League A preview of Division 1 matches to be played on Wednesday 26 January
League leaders Lower Hopton take on Clayton West this Wednesday with the added incentive of knowing that 5 points will ensure that they become the first-ever Champions of the Winter League. As they have never recorded less than 6 points in any match this season the target is obviously well within their grasp. However, Clayton West will be well motivated looking to become the first team to beat Lower Hopton this season and also to retain their interest in the race to be runners-up. Defeat in this match will end any such aspirations.
Elsewhere Lowerhouses 'A' will be looking to follow up on their key win against fellow relegation-threatened strugglers Milnsbridge 'A' by getting points against Kirkheaton Con this week. Milnsbridge 'A' have the day off but could return to a huge deficit and only 2 matches left to recover the situation and one of those being against runaway leaders Lower Hopton.
Kirkheaton Con will be well motivated in that key match as they need to hang on to second place with increasing pressure coming from Lindley BC 'A' and the New Millers. These two face each other this week with the 2022 New Millers a very different proposition to that team that went 4 matches without a win leading up to the Christmas break. They have won all three of their 2022 fixtures and will be looking to extend that good run of form and inch ahead of this week's opponents. Whichever of these two teams wins this encounter will emerge as the biggest threat to Kirkheaton Con for the runners-up spot.
Rastrick 'A' are already relegated and will finish bottom of the table so have little, other than pride and a first win of the season, to play for. This week's meeting with Thorpe Green 'A' probably presents them with their best remaining chance of doing that. Thorpe Green will be looking for a repeat of their only 8-0 win of the season but even that would not alter their 6th place in the league table.
Milnsbridge BC is the venue for all the action and spectators are very welcome to join in the spectacle that is winter bowling in the Winter League.
