The mystery that is Golcar Lib

Winter League

Preview of the Division 1 fixtures scheduled for Wednesday 17 December

There is a 39 points gap between the teams at the top and bottom of the Division 1 table as they face up to each other this Wednesday. Thorpe Green are unlikely to be dislodged from the top spot by the Golcar Lib result as they are a team that continues to struggle at the foot of the table. It is a mystery as to why Golcar Lib continue to struggle at the top level whilst they have a team stuffed with experienced bowlers who have been members of a Veterans League Championship winning team not so long ago.

They joined the Winter League three years ago and were immediately placed in Division 1 as their track record deserved that recognition. However they finished that season bottom of the table and were relegated to Division 2 for last season. They thrived that season to win promotion back to Division 1 after finishing second and 18 points ahead of third-placed Marsh United. The assumption being that this time they would be better prepared to respond to the task having experienced the Milnsbridge green through a previous season. It hasn't worked out that way and they are still looking for a first win of the season and are 17 points from safety as teams start the second half of the season. Things are unlikely to change this week as they take on a rampant Thorpe Green team seemingly heading for a hat-trick of titles.

This round of fixtures is the reverse of the opening set and sees Lower Hopton looking to avenge an opening day 2-6 defeat to newly promoted Hanging Heaton. Things have changed since then as the Lower Hopton team has progressively improved and now sit second in the table, albeit 7 points behind the leaders. Cowcliffe sit between those two teams and could launch a threat for the title from there with a match against a New Mill A side that hasn't hit the heights of the last two seasons when they have finished third each time.

Kirkheaton Con A will have to depend upon their second-half set of results from sending them down, starting with a fixture against a Lindley BC A team who have only been beaten by Thorpe Green in their last three matches.