Monday matches at Cowcliffe & Netherton

Winter League

Divisions 2&10 Monday fixtures at Cowcliffe and Netherton are previewed

Primrose Hill Lib have had to postpone all the Division 4 matches on their green this Monday but we still have two rounds of fixtures going ahead from the usual 11.00am start time. There is a full programme at Cowcliffe where Division 2 teams will play the fixtures postponed from last Tuesday because of Storm Bram and they also have a full fixture programme on the following day as well. In addition, Division 10 teams play their first matches on their new home green at Netherton Con.

The Division 2 leaders are Clayton West and they have an unbeaten record after six matches and intend to extend that another week and complete a great first half of the season. Third-placed New Mill B stand in their way and they have their own agenda in pursuing the second promotion place, being three points behind the present occupant of that spot, Lindley Lib A.

The Lindley Lib A team have won their last three matches and will be aiming to keep that sequence going when meeting Marsh United who have gone off the boil after a bright start to the season but that has all changed with three defeats on the bounce to follow.

Meltham A picked up their first win of the season last week and will hope to build on that when meeting Lowerhouses A this Monday. Whilst the Lowerhouses B side could do with a couple of good results this week with the first being against Milnsbridge A who will be aiming to continue their alternating Win 1 Lose 1 record with the Win 1 again due this week.

New venue for the Division 10 teams as they gather on Monday for their first look at the Netherton Con green, they will not be disappointed. What better way to start off a new milestone in the League's history than with the top two teams facing up to each other? Thongsbridge being 3 points behind a Rastrick team that has an unbeaten record to date and three points divide the two title contenders. This week's round of matches completes the first half of an unexpected extended full season of matches and this clash could turn out to be a title decider.

The one defeat that Thongsbridge has experienced came against Hemplow B who have now withdrawn from the League after almost completing the initial 7-week mini-season to be replaced by Brockholes E. The two Lindley teams will complete their commitment to the mini-season with this final round of pre-Christmas fixtures. They are matched against the two Brockholes teams in their final matches with the two D teams meeting each other and the two E teams also in a fitting climax to their 7-week campaigns. However it is first experience for the Brockholes E team and we wish them well in picking up the legacy playing record from the Hemplow B team and playing on to the end of February.

Skel Windmill cannot be ruled out of the race to the top after drawing their matches against the top two and still protecting an unbeaten playing record. A match against bottom-of-the-table, Outlane B, should offer the opportunity to add to that unbeaten record and close the gap on at least one of the top two teams.