Mirfield League
Review of matches played 10 August 2021
It was an up and down day for the two Division 1 teams from Lower Hopton as the 'A' side crashed out to their main title rivals Thongsbridge C&BC 'A' by 2-10 and immediately saw their 10 point lead at the top of the table all but disappear. Now down to 2 points with just a 4 point aggregate difference to add testimony to that adage 'every point counts'. Thongsbridge had been in a rough patch of form only winning 3 of their previous 7 league games but they put that behind them when the table-toppers came calling. A better day for the Lower Hopton club's 'B' team who had a precious 7-5 home win over Crossgates 'A' with a 172-171 aggregate score to move out of the relegation places. Bottom team Ossett Flying Horse 'A' also had a good home win this time over Crosland Moor who are in real danger of being dragged into the relegation fight.
Division 2 leaders Kirkheaton Con 'A' also had a bad day going down 3-9 at Woodlands Park for a 4th defeat in their last 7 matches and to reduce their lead to 2 points ahead of Alverthorpe 'A' who beat Spen Victoria 'A' 10-2. That defeat for Spen Victoria meant a one-place drop as Pudsey 'B' passed them and out of the bottom three after a 9-3 home win over Whitkirk.
Dodworth reclaimed the Division 3 top spot following an 8-4 away win at bottom of the table Horbury overtaking Shipley and Littlemoor 'B' in the process. Ossett C&AC's 10-2 home win over Littlemoor 'B' took them right back into the promotion race as did Rothwell's 8-4 home win over Shipley. Milnsbridge 'A' claimed a 2nd victory of the season when beating Cleckheaton Sports 'A' 9-3 but that wasn't enough to save them from relegation which this result confirms as it does for Horbury. Horbury WMC and Milnsbridge 'A' are both relegated.
The top of the table confrontation in Division 4 went the way of leaders Thornhill who used home advantage to ring up a 9-3 win over Farsley who slip 16 points behind their opponents as a result although having played a game more. Thornhill need just 2 points from their remaining two matches to confirm promotion but their sights are on much higher acclaim. Farsley themselves have a 13-point cushion lead over the 3rd placed team from Spen Victoria 'B' who clocked up a comfortable 8-4 home win over Broad Oak 'B'. That defeat for Broad Oak left them as one of 3 teams on 75 points heavily involved trying to avoid the second relegation place. But it is not just those three that are involved with six teams within 4 points of each other above bottom team Denby Grange 'B'. With only 3 weeks of league fixtures left this is one issue that is clearly going to go right down to the wire.
Morton House could become the second divisional winners of the season next week when they will host second-placed Heckmondwike where a good win could clinch the Division 5 title. A big 9-1 away win at lowly The Harold Club this week has put them in that position with Heckmondwike, Almondbury Lib and Cleckheaton Sports 'B' all won as well to keep the second promotion place up for grabs with just 6 points separating the three contenders. It increasingly looks like any 2 from 3 will be going down with Cowcliffe, The Harold Club and Marsh United only collecting 5 points between them this week with next week's meeting between the bottom two probably condemning the loser to Division 6 bowling next season.
Thongsbridge 'B' had the day off this week but remain 9-points clear at the top of the Division 6 table with 3 teams vying for the second promotion place. All those three teams won this week with just 4 points separating Golcar Lib, Netherton Con and Thorpe Green 'A'. Milnsbridge 'B' are hanging on mathematically to their current status by their fingertips but their relegation is expected to be confirmed next week regardless of the outcome of their match against second from bottom Almondbury BC who still retain hopes of avoiding the drop.
Shepley are the Division 7 Champions after an 8-2 home win over bottom team Dalton gave them a 25-point lead over Royds Park with 2 games to go and a 32-point advantage over the third-placed team, Springwood 'A' who have 3 matches left to play. So congratulations to the boys from Shepley as the first confirmed divisional winners of the 2021 season.
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