Winter League
Half of the teams in the League have matches on Monday this week as tackling the backlog of fixtures begins. Monday is a day usually reserved for a single division of matches for Division 4 teams but that has changed. Four weeks without any bowling has raised the need to revert to two matches a week for some of the divisions. All the revised fixture programmes are shown on the updated Bowlsnet system.
This Monday, in addition to Division 4 fixtures at Primrose Hill Lib, there are also matches at Milnsbridge (Division 1), Cowcliffe (Division 2) and Lindley Lib (Division 5). So the casual bowling spectator has a choice to make. Here are the fixtures, tables and our selected Match of the Day in each of the four divisions involved in Monday matches.
Division 1 (Milnsbridge) Match of the Day: Thorpe Green A v Lower Hopton
An obvious choice for the Division 1 Match of the Day is first versus second as the leaders and reigning Champions, Thorpe Green A, take on last season's runners-up Lower Hopton. It is a big match for Lower Hopton who won the title in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons and are now 6 points behind the leaders and anything less than a win will be a serious setback in their quest for a third title success.
When the two teams met earlier in the season it was Lower Hopton who came out on top when inflicting the only defeat on the Champions this season. They need a similar outcome this Monday if they are to close that gap and keep their title hopes alive.
Division 2 (Cowcliffe)
Match of the Day: Golcar Lib v Marsh United
The teams in 2nd and 3rd places in the Division 2 table go head-to-head this week at Cowcliffe and with the Golcar Lib team sitting dead-level on 52 points with the leaders Hanging Heaton A anything other than a win could seriously damage their title hopes.
Marsh United have only lost two matches all season and they were against the top two teams so need to address that this Monday otherwise their promotion hopes could disappear in a flash. The top two teams both remain unbeaten and are scheduled to meet each other on the very last day of the season. Any faltering on the part of either of the top two before them would leave them at a serious disadvantage for the climax.
Division 4 (Primrose Hill Lib)
Match of the Day: Linthwaite Hall A v Dalton
This is crunch time for the bottom two teams as Linthwaite Hall A and Dalton meet up. Dalton are 10-points adrift of their nearest rivals. The Linthwaite Hall team are in real danger in joining them dropping through the relegation trapdoor as they are level on points with Thorpe Green B who sit immediately above them on the same 32-points mark.
Dalton have only chalked up one win all season whilst Linthwaite Hall won 4 of their first 5 fixtures but then folded to lose their next four on the trot. Thorpe Green B will be looking on with tremendous interest but are playing the leaders Rastrick so will be fully focused on that.
Division 5 (Lindley Lib)
Match of the Day: Lindley Lib C v Jackson Bridge
Jackson Bridge are at the last chance saloon if they are to mount a push for promotion when taking on the table toppers from Lindley Lib C. There is an 18-points gap between the teams but Jackson Bridge are just 6 points behind second placed Milnsbridge C. Unfortunately for Jackson Bridge the Milnsbridge team this week meet bottom of the table Almondbury BC A who are still searching for their first win of the season. Milnsbridge are in good form, well they were before the Christmas break, and are still the only team to beat Lindley Lib C all season.
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