Tuesday matches previewed

Winter League

A preview of the matches to be played on Tuesday in Divisions 8 & 9

Lockwood Con C defied all expectations with an opening day 8-0 win to go top of the first Division 8 table. They can build on that with a Tuesday fixture against a Meltham B team that lost their opening match and, based on last week's showing, is definitely winnable for them.

Golcar C&BC made a good start last week in chipping away at the -20points penalty they suffered for declining promotion after walking away with the Division 8 title last season. This week they take on Cowcliffe C who finished in 4th place last season, 37 points behind the Champions Golcar C&BC. The matches between the two teams both finished with an 8-0 scoreline with both teams winning once.

Broad Oak B also started the new season in style with a 6-2 win over Meltham B and this week have to play Mirfield B who also struggled on the opening day going down 2-6 to the leaders, Lockwood Con C. That just leaves two teams facing each other who both lost by the same 2-6 score last week so one of them will probably end up with a first win of the season when Linthwaite Hall B face Hemplow A.

It was quite a shock to many of the Division 9 bowlers when they turned up at Paddock I&C for the opening day of the Winter League season as many of them are relatively new bowlers and many of them had never seen this green before never mind actually played on it. Mirfield C and Marsh Lib B both had good starts to the new season recording 8-0 whitewash wins over Kirkheaton Con C and Brockholes C respectively. They are kept apart this week, although the top four teams play each other, as do the bottom four teams.

That sees the top two in the table taking on the other first-day winners, Kirkheaton C&BC C and Greenhead Park. This should give us a good idea of which teams are settling into the nuances of the Paddock I&C green the quickest. All four teams will be looking to continue their winning ways so that should keep the interest going.

In the bottom half of the table the four teams will all be seeking their first wins of the season which includes another Kirkheaton derby match as Kirkheaton C&BC B meet their neighbours from Kirkheaton Con B. The loser will inevitably find themselves in the bottom two slots which is not where you want to be at this early stage of the campaign. The same fate awaits the loser of the Almondbury BC C versus Brockholes C encounter as the teams learn which teams are becoming familiar with the Paddock green faster than their opponents. Bring it on!