Ladies Works League
The Ladies Works League season has ended in chaotic confusion with the outcome of the Division 2 season still to be verified more than a week after the final fixture was due to be played. The last game of the season was scheduled to be played last Monday (13th) night with D Haigh & Co at home to Holmes Dresser but that match was never played and the match has been conceded by D Haigh & Co with a 168-0 scoreline in favour of Holmes Dresser which is sufficient to go top and take the title.
As both D Haigh & Co and Holmes Dresser could both have lifted the Division 2 title there hadn't been a more important fixture all season. But for some unstated reason that match didn't go ahead and presumably the Management Committee will decide on any further action in due course. Or maybe they wont as there is no promotion in play this year then they may decide to not take any further action. Did the lack of a promotion incentive contribute to the situation?
The League Rules say that the two teams are responsible for rearranging any postponed match and should that postponement happen in the final week of the season then the teams have 7 days to stage the match. Failure to do so will result in a points deduction from the offending team(s). That hasn't happened yet but then again everyone seems to have given up on this season so it wouldn't be a surprise if no further action was taken.
That leaves Pearce Displays with grounds for grievance sitting at the top of the table with the final match of the season coming up with Holmes Dresser needing 153 points to move into the top of the table spot whereas D Haigh & Co need 130 points to pass the leaders. Even the reverse fixture between the two teams staged the week before was highly unsatisfactory with Holmes Dresser three bowlers short going down 97-150 seemingly handing the prime challenge to the title to D Haigh & Co. What was building up to a great finish to the League season proved to be anything but. What an anti-climax!
After what was a really good genial year of team bowling it was a very disappointing end to the season for several teams, captains and individual players. When teams enter to play in leagues then it is an expected given that they will complete the fixtures that are provided for them unless there are very unusual circumstances beyond their control, this wasn't the case in this situation. An unfortunate mix up with green availability/rearranging dates played a major part in this unfortunate outcome. The fact that there was to be no promotion this year also appears to have contributed to the decisions made and the subsequent outcomes.
So who would have been top and second of section 2 if all…