Storm Babet v Winter League

Winter League

Preview of the Division 5 & 6 fixtures being played on Thursday 19 October

Traditionally it rains on Thursdays at Netherton whenever the Winter League shows up. The first fixture programme of the Netherton Con Division 5 season begins this Thursday. True to form a weather warning has been issued by the Met Office starting at 6am on Thursday when Storm Babet is scheduled to hit West Yorkshire with two days of s**t weather. Welcome to the Winter League!!

Teams playing on Thursday at Netherton or Huddersfield RUFC are reminded to man their Emergency Telephone Numbers on Thursday morning. If, for any reason, the fixtures are called off then team captains will be contacted by 10.30am and then they then have to pass the news on to their teams. The decision whether to play or not will be made by the host club.

On the assumption that the Winter League bowlers will laugh in the face of Storm Babet here is the preview of the fixtures scheduled for Divisions 5 and 6. Enjoy.

It is the opening day of the Division 5 season at Netherton Con on Thursday with three new teams testing the format for the first time. They are Outlane, Mirfield A and Slaithwaite and they all avoid each other on the opening day. Slaithwaite and Mirfield take on two teams, Brockholes B and Springwood C respectively, who finished last season in mid-table in Division 5 so this will be a good measure and test of their capabilities.

The other new team are Outlane who play the unluckiest team in the League, Almondbury BC B, who only needed one winner in their last match of the 2022-23 season to win the Division 5 Champions title. As things panned out they didn't even get promoted so will be keen to avoid a repeat of that last-day drama again this season. Huddersfield Recreation Club B came bottom of the Division 4 table last year so reappear in Division 5 this Thursday when they meet the homesters from Netherton Con B.

There are 7 new teams in Division 6 and after two weeks there are 4 teams level top on the same 10 points total. Two of those 4 meet each other when Linthwaite Hall and Lockwood Con B go head-to-head this Thursday. We also have the meeting of the top two teams against the bottom two, although to be fair the bottom two are probably where they are because they have both only played one match to date.

New Mill C are the early leaders but only because of a better Aggregate For total than the other 3 teams on 10 points and they meet Mirfield B who have only played one match which they drew 4-4. Broad Oak started their campaign with a loss last week and they have to take on the host team as they seek their first win. Golcar C&BC against Cowcliffe B completes the Thursday programme at the Rugby Club.