Winter League
Review of the Division 5 fixtures played at Lindley Lib on Wednesday 4 December
Lindley Lib C continue to set a hot pace at the top of the Division 5 table and have extended their lead this week to a massive 16 points with half the season now completed. Their latest success being a 6-2 win over Paddock I&C with their nearest challengers, Jackson Bridge, faltering when beaten 2-6 by Elland WMC. That brought the Elland side within 2 points of the second promotion place and on a three-match unbeaten run with their next three fixtures against the bottom three teams.
Almondbury BC A and Springwood B are firmly anchored in the two relegation places, both looking for their first wins of the season and exactly half a season to turn things around. There was no sign of any of that this week as both went down 0-8 to Kirkheaton C&BC A and Milnsbridge C respectively. Things are unlikely to change much next week with the top four teams paired against the bottom four teams.
I recall the Lindley Lib C team playing in Division 4 on their home green last season. They topped the Division as the season moved well into the second half of the 16-week season and they were concerned that promotion would mean a date switch for the following season. That presented them with a problem as the team was made up with bowlers key to hosting matches on their green.
They were considering throwing matches later in the season to ensure that they wouldn't get promoted but a team meeting decided against that and a decision to juggle the teams around in the event of them getting promotion was under consideration. That decision was taken away from them as a sudden downturn in form saw them only win 2 of their last 6 matches to drop down the table and finish sixth of nine. They show no sign of a rerun of that collapse at present but bowling can be a funny old game as we all know.
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