Mirfield 1st & 2nd at top of Division 5 table

Winter League

Denby Dale incurred a -10 points penalty for declining promotion last season

The Division 3 season continued at Springwood on Wednesday with all four 'home' teams running out 6-2 winners. That included the Almondbury BC B side who continue to set the pace at the top of the table after beating their nearest rivals, Slaithwaite, to go two points clear. However that is two points clear of Thorpe Green C emerging as the next threat to the Almondbury team elevated three divisions, a decision that looks increasingly well justified.

Thorpe Green condemned Lockwood Con A to a relegation place after suffering a third successive defeat as did Lindley BC B at the hands of Springwood A. Denby Dale see their points total in a positive place after overhauling the -10 points penalty incurred for declining promotion last season. A 6-2 win over Lindley Lib B proved the platform for a move out of the relegation places and now on the trail of the leaders.

A selection of photographs from Springwood yesterday provided by John Pix showing off another excellent playing surface for Winter League teams.

The Division 5 season opened at Lindley Lib on Wednesday as the excellent green welcomed good bowlers back for a fourth consecutive season of Winter League bowling. The first table of the season sees the two Mirfield teams, both new to this division, taking the top two positions after day-one. Mirfield Old Bank are new to the League and have been placed in Division 5 based on their playing record in other competitions. That is a decision that Thorpe Green B will not challenge after losing 0-8 to the new boys.

However any move to top the table will have to wait a while as Mirfield A outperformed their local rivals when recording the same 8-0 winning scoreline. The two teams only separated by the better aggregate difference. The Mirfield A opponents being Milnsbridge C who find themselves at the foot of the table at the end of week 1.

The two teams that finished 4th and 5th in this division last season, Kirkheaton C&BC A and Jackson Bridge, both had good opening day 6-2 wins over Paddock I&C and Dalton respectively to move menancingly behind the top two.