League News
Mirfield League
League bowling recommences after the halfway 2-week break in fixtures and a few things still to be sorted in the way of titles, promotion and relegation to concentrate the minds of the participants. It's very tight in Division 1 with 3 points between the top 3 teams and all three have home matches against bottom-half teams this week. Third-placed Lower Hopton 'A' will be hoping that their 'B' side can take a few points off reigning Champions Thongsbridge 'A' but the omens are not encouraging as Thongsbridge 'A' only won one away match in the first half of the season and that was against Lower Hopton 'B'. Pudsey 'A' currently have a 13-point better Aggregate For total to seperate the top two with Lower Hopton 'A' only 7 points further back so clearly every point is now vital and could well determine the destination of the 2021 title. At the foot of the table the future looks decidedly uncomfortable for Ossett Flying Horse 'A' who are 20 points behind their nearest opponents but then it becomes interesting with 3 points separating the next three teams and which one of them is to accompany OFH in the drop. Two of those three teams came up from Division 2 last season (2019) and will be keen to preserve their top-flight status so making games between them all the more critical. Denby Grange 'A' were promoted last season as Division 2 runners-up and will know that their match against bottom team OFH this week presents them with an opportunity to complete the double over their opponents and ease their relegation worries in the short-term at least. It is possible for one of the teams currently a little higher to get sucked into the relegation battle and that danger is unlikely to disappear quickly so ensuring continuing interest at both ends of the division for some weeks yet.
Matters look a lot clearer in Division 2 where Kirkheaton Con 'A' have opened up a 13-point lead at the top of the table but will be mindful of their visit this week to third-placed Alverthorpe 'A' who will be out for revenge after an 11-1 opening day defeat at the home of the leaders. Second-placed Woodlands Park will hope to maintain their quest for an immediate return to Division 1 but will get a hot reception at fourth-placed Crossgates 'B' who need to start narrowing the gap to the leading trio if they are to resurrect their own promotion hopes. Things haven't worked out too well for the other relegated side, Brighouse Sports, who are in danger of a second consecutive relegation as they currently sit in the second drop position although a run of 3 wins from their last 4 matches gives them hope that they are coming to terms with their plight and have a great opportunity to build on that with a home fixture over Pudsey 'B' who they could overtake with a modest win this Tuesday. That is also true of third from bottom Spen Victoria 'A' who host Eccleshill and again positions could be reversed with a four-point home win.
Into Division 3 where 2nd and 3rd meet and Shipley will aim to make home advantage count in winning by a margin sufficient to reduce the 4-point gap to Littlemoor 'B'. Dodworth are the table toppers and they will be looking to complete the double over Elland C&BC when they travel this week whilst the bottom two, Milnsbridge 'A' and Horbury WMC, already look doomed as they are more than 20 points from safety and with just one win between them all season.
Division 4 is the tightest of all with one point seperating the top three teams with Lowerhouses currently riding high but knowing that their away form has to improve if they are to retain hopes of the title this year. They have lost all four of their away games to date as have second placed Thornhill C&BC. Away wins are something of a rarity in Division 4 with only 4 of the 32 matches completed so far this season going the way of the away team. Ossett Flying Horse 'B' may be sat in a relegation place at present but no team has won more Division 4 matches than them this season which is a worry as 5 of their remaining 8 games are away from home. The bottom two teams meet at Denby Grange where OFH are the visitors and if the home dominance prevails again then that 11 point gap could be eroded. The 2nd and 3rd placed teams are also in direct competition when Kirkheaton Con 'B' will be looking to reverse the 2-10 hammering they took at Thornhill C&BC on the first day of the season and any win would reverse the pecking order of these two contenders. The leaders, Lowerhouses, will be looking to complete a league double over Broad Oak 'B' this week and extend their lead at the top at the same time.
The future looks very rosey for Morton House as they sit at the top of the Division 5 table with the League's only 100% win record as they look to free-wheel to the title through the second half of the season. That downhill cruise starts at Almondbury Lib but they will be making a mistake to assume an easy ride as the Almondbury team pushed the leaders to their closest scoreline on the opening day when they needed the better aggregate to clinch the points 6-4. Now with home advantage the Lib will be looking for a win to kick-start their own promotion push and open up battle for the second promotion place. The bottom two teams meet up this week with Marsh United having the advantage of playing at home in their quest for a league double having already won away at Cowcliffe 6-4.
Four points seperate the top four teams in Division 6 with the top two going face-to-face as Golcar Lib welcome leaders Thongsbridge 'B' who will be aiming to complete the double over their opponents and widen that current 3-point lead. Milnsbridge 'B' sit 26 points off the relegation zone and Rastrick hold that advantage which they will be keen to preserve when the teams meet this week.
The top three teams in Division 7 all have home games this week and the 14 point spread between the teams is unlikely to diminish sufficiently to cause leaders Shepley any major concern.
HuddWeb is now providing weekly postings covering the Matchday Preview and Results Round-Up for 6 local bowling leagues - the Huddersfield Saturday League, Mirfield League, Ladies Works League, Veterans 10-Man League, Veterans 6-Man League and the Huddersfield Winter League. Trying to fill the gap left by The Examiner.
Comments