Winter League
A preview of the Division 5 & 6 fixtures scheduled for Thursday 1 February
The Netherton Con B team were relegated last week after the latest Division 5 matches on their home green. They now have 16 points and with four remaining fixtures can only collect a maximum total of 48 points which sees them fall short of the total already collected by the third from bottom team. The relegation fight continues with Huddersfield Recreation Club B deep in the mire and desperate for points in their match against Jackson Bridge this Thursday. Having not won since the opening day of the season and lost 0-8 when the two teams met last November things are not looking too promising for the Canalside/Syngenta/Zeneca exiles.
The five teams above them in the table will all be fearful of getting dragged into a fight to avoid the second relegation place but it increasingly looks like a bleak outlook for the Recreation Club who can only attain a maximum of 58 points so setting the target mark for the other teams.
At the other end of the table the leaders, Slaithwaite, are matched against third-placed Outlane who trail them by 12-points having played a game more as well. A win for Slaithwaite will almost guarantee them a promotion place so every incentive for them this week. Springwood C will expect to improve their own promotion credentials when taking on already relegated Netherton Con B and complete a league double over their Division 5 hosts.
That leaves the mid-table meeting of Almondbury BC B and Brockholes B with both teams on 54 points which still sees them in striking range of the second promotion place and with a match in hand over all the teams above them. However, the loser of this fixture will put themselves under pressure to remain in the promotion hunt so making the outcome key to both teams' futures. One thing the two teams do have in common is that they are two of only three teams to beat the division leaders Slaithwaite this season so setting the bar of what is possible.
Big promotion match in Division 6 this week with the leaders, Linthwaite Hall, already assured of one of those places. The other one will go to New Mill C or Huddersfield RUFC who go head-to-head this Thursday. A 6-2 win for New Mill will almost secure a promotion place, an 8-0 win would guarantee it. Cowcliffe could still muscle in on that promotion outcome but it would need a special combination of results this week and next to see that materialise. Whatever happens, they need to win big in their final match of the season when they meet bottom-of-the-table Mirfield B this week.
Linthwaite Hall are already promoted and now need 8 points from their final two matches to add the title to crown their first season in the League. They certainly will not want to fall short of that target this week as their final match in 7 days time is against second-placed New Mill C who as things stand are the only team that can deny them the title. The Linfit team will be looking to open the champagne after this week's fixture against Golcar C&BC and an 8-0 win or matching the New Mill score from their match will suffice in bringing the silverware to Linthwaite for the next 12 months.
All this activity distracts attention away from a relegation decider with Broad Oak and Kirkheaton Con B meeting this week and the second relegation place is likely to go to one of them. A win for Broad Oak will guarantee their safety, a win for the Kirkheaton side would take the fight into the final day of the season. Bring it on.
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