League News
Three weeks into the new season and only one division doesn't have a team with a 100% unbeaten record and that is in Division 1. That indicates a competitive division and nowhere is that more apparent than at the top where four teams are separated by a single point.
The A teams from Lower Hopton and Thongsbridge are locked together on 23 points with an aggregate advantage of 5 giving the former top-ranking at present. Right behind those two sit Littlemoor A and Crossgates A both on 22 points and all four teams have 2-Wins 1-Loss records.
Denby Grange A can also boast a 2-1 record and now include the prestigious scalp of Thongsbridge A in that list. The match score was 7-5 on the day although Denby Grange lost 3 of those games to 20 so the damage could have been much greater to the Champions bid to retain their title. Newly promoted and sitting in 5th place that win has certainly announced their arrival at the top table this year.
In keeping with the tight nature of this division, 9 of the 10 teams have won at least one match already with Lower Hopton B being the odd one out. The postponed match between Pudsey A and Dearne Sports has been rescheduled for this Saturday.
Two teams have 100% records after three Division 2 matches and they both had big home wins this week to extend those records. Kirkheaton Con's 10-2 victory over Whitkirk enabled them to open up a 3-point lead over Woodlands Park who inflicted a first defeat of the season on Spen Victoria A by 9-3. Eccleshill played two fixtures this week and won them both to add 19 points to their tally and go third in the table. Crossgates B has had a stuttering start to the season with two of their first three fixtures called off but they caught up with one of those last night but are still looking for their first win of the season. They are not alone in that respect as Brighouse Sports and The Harold Club are in a similar position.
There are three unbeaten teams in Division 3 and Dodworth sit on top of the pile at present probably due to playing 3 games as opposed to 2 by their two opponents. They were pushed all the way in their latest outing when needing the aggregate advantage to steer them to a 7-5 home win over Shipley. A two-point lead over Ossett C&AC doesn't seem sufficient for having played a game more but we have a long way to go yet. Cleckheaton Sports A being the other unbeaten team and their latest match resulted in a 8-4 home win over Littlemoor B. Two teams are still looking for their first wins of 2021 and Milnsbridge A are one of those and their 2-10 home reversal by Elland C&BC was sufficient to send their visitors up into 3rd place.
Thornhill C&BC had a second successive 10-2 home win to send them to the top of the early Division 4 table three points ahead of Broad Oak A who lost their unbeaten record away at Farsley this week. That made it 2 wins out of 2 for Farsley but they languish in sixth place due to having played a game less than the rest of the major players. Kirkheaton Con B made it consecutive 9-3 wins when beating Spen Victoria B on their own green this week. That left the Spen Victoria team still looking for their first win and they join Mirfield Old Bank and Denby Grange B as the current bottom three.
One point separates the top three in Division 5 but it is Morton House who hold the only 100% record in this division. A 7-3 home win over 2nd placed Alverthorpe B being the latest which also ended their opponents winning start to the season. Heckmondwike sit 3rd with a Won-2 Drawn-1 record to date after beating Cleckheaton Sports B 7-3 this week which including a 21-0 dry-rub for John Stocks. Almondbury Lib is the only team still looking for a first win of the new season after losing 3-7 at home to Lockwood Con.
All 4 fixtures in Division 6 ended in home wins including a 8-2 home win for Thongsbridge C&BC B over Rastrick which kept them in the leading position in the table. A second consecutive whitewash 10-0 defeat for Milnsbridge B this time to Netherton Cons pushed the victors into 2nd place just a point behind the leaders. With 8-2 home wins for Grange Moor and Golcar Lib that concluded affairs in this division this week.
A whitewash win is something of a rarity for most teams but one away from home is even more of an achievement and that is what happened this week in Division 7 as Royds Park overwhelmed Thorpe Green B on their own lawn. That places Royds Park in second place behind Shepley who made it 3 wins from 3 matches at Broad Oak B with an 8-2 scoreline. It is week 3 of the season and Dalton were playing their first match of the season as they shrugged off the cobwebs to log a 6-4 home win over Springwood B who have now lost their three opening fixtures but still find themselves in the top half of the table.
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