Title hope setback in Hanging Heaton defeat

Winter League

Review of the Division 1 fixtures played on Wednesday 12 November

In the build up to this clash of the teams holding down the top two places in the Division 1 table we speculated that this could be a title decider. If that is true then a first defeat in two years for Hanging Heaton means their challenge is over. That is oversimplifying things and I am sure that the losers will come back stronger and more determined than ever after this setback. It wasn't just the 0-8 final score which will have been alien to them but the manner of the defeat with all three legs producing big wins for the reigning Division 1 Champions Thorpe Green A. A 63-35 aggregate scoreline related the dominance of the winners but that result is now behind them and time to get on with the rest of the season. The last time that the Hanging Heaton team had lost a match was over two years ago in their first ever match in the League on 13 October 2023 when Marsh United beat them 6-2.

Cowcliffe will feature prominently in the Thorpe Green team's mirror as they notched up a third consecutive win to retain second place in the table which is exactly where they finished their first term in Division 1 last season. Lindley BC A were the latest team on their hitlist and a 6-2 win keeps the Cowcliffe team well in contention for another challenge for the title.

Lower Hopton and Kirkheaton Con A both collected their first wins of the season as Lower Hopton beat New Mill A 6-2 and Kirkheaton Con A denied Golcar Lib a first win by edging their match 5-3 after a 52-52 aggregate draw.