New leaders at the top of Division 7

Winter League

Review of Thursdays results in Divisions 6&7

The top two teams in Division 6 appear to be cruising to promotion as both clocked up 8-0 wins this week to extend their lead over the chasing pack to 10 points and more. Cowcliffe B maintain their 4-point advantage over Brockholes B after a whitewash win over bottom team Netherton Con B. The Cowcliffe team remain one of only four teams in the League with an unbeaten record this season. But they can't shake off the Brockholes B team who matched their scoreline when overwhelming Hanging Heaton B which ended a run of three straight wins for the Hanging Heaton side.

Both those losing teams remain in the dropzone along with Springwood B who went down 2-6 to Almondbury BC A which is a direct reversal of the result when the two teams met on the opening day of the season. The same applies to the Springwood C team's 6-2 win over Outlane B, avenging a 2-6 score when the two teams last met.

There is a change at the top of the Division 10 table as Huddersfield RUFC regain top spot from Kirkheaton Con A after an 8-0 win over Holmfirth which resulted in a drop from 2nd to 4th place for the Holmfirth side. That was a first win in four matches for the Rugby Club team and produces a slender 2-point lead over two teams locked together on 48 points. Those two teams - Kirkheaton Con B and Marsh Lib A - met on Thursday with the Marsh Lib team coming out on top 6-2 courtesy of a one point (56-55) aggregate advantage.

That defeat and two-place drop to 4th for Holmfirth was a major setback to their promotion hopes and it could get worse as they are on the same 42 points total as Lockwood Con B and Huddersfield Recreation Club B. The main threat from that trio seems to be Lockwood Con B as a 6-2 win over New Mill C was their fourth win on the bounce and puts them in a pack of six teams separated by eight points so one good 8-0 win can turn everything upside down so lots of movement is anticipated over the remaining weeks of the season. Huddersfield Recreation Club B expect to be part of that shake-up with only one defeat in their last six fixtures they are on a strong run of results.

One thing that looks nailed on is that the current bottom two will end the season in the same positions as they are both seriously adrift of a safe landing. With New Mill C and Broad Oak A both losing 2-6 again this week to Lockwood Con B and Huddersfield Recreation Club B, respectively, they are a minimum of 15 points short of avoiding the drop with only 4 matches left to play.