Team KO Semi-Finals Preview

Veterans 10-Man League

Two teams from Section 1 and two from Section 2 are through to the semi-finals of the Team KO competition and meet this Thursday to determine which teams will progress through to the Final to be played on Thursday 16 September at Lindley BC. Here we take a look at both ties and the chances of all four teams.

Broad Oak A (+10) v. Lockwood Con. A (scr) On Outlane Broad Oak 'A' are through to the late stages of this competition after negotiating difficult ties against two Section 1 teams - Clayton West and Cowcliffe. They have needed the 10-point handicap advantage each time to progress and now have the ultimate test against the Section 1 leaders and holders of this competition trophy. Broad Oak are not in their best form of the season having lost their last two Section 2 matches and dropped down the pecking order in the promotion battle but they are a different proposition in knock-out bowling. Lockwood Con 'A' have won this trophy 3 times in the last 5 years, are the current Champions and are well-positioned in their bid for a 7th consecutive Section 1 league title.

Longwood (+5) v. Kirkheaton Con. A (+10) On Slaithwaite Kirkheaton Con 'A' are 27 points clear at the top of Section 2 but have avoided Section 1 teams through the previous rounds so are untested against top opposition although they did come unstuck against Cowcliffe (82-89) in the semi-finals of the Bistro last week. Only two league defeats all season which saw a run of 13 straight wins ended at Lindley BC two weeks ago. Longwood are in good form with only one defeat in their last 7 league games and had to tackle only one Section 1 team (Thongsbridge 'A') on route to this stage. Whilst the Longwood teams have been prolific in collecting trophies in the 6-Man League they have never won a 10-Man League competition so are out to remedy that.