Winter League
Preview of the Divisions 1 & 2 fixtures scheduled for Wednesday 14 February
Things remain very tight at the top of the Division 1 table with the leaders, Thorpe Green A, only having two matches left to play and 12 points clear. This Wednesday's clash with 2nd placed New Mill A is crucial for both teams but equally so for third-placed Lower Hopton who play Golcar Lib. They have played a match less than their two rivals but need Thorpe Green to slip up to take full advantage of their easier run into the end of the season.
As Thorpe Green's final fixture is against lowly Lowerhouses A, this week's top two clash is probably the last chance that Lower Hopton has of defending the Division 1 title that they have claimed for the last two years. Defeat for the leaders would open the door to a Lower Hopton charge to the title once again. New Mill A could win the encounter with Thorpe Green A and still not improve their chances of taking the title for the first time.
Elsewhere should Lowerhouses A lose their match against Clayton West then they will be relegated and so would Golcar Lib. That outcome could also impact on the future for Kirkheaton Con A and Meltham as the team that finishes third from bottom could be relegated in a shuffle to move to 8 teams in a division for next year. As the two teams meet this week one of them could go a long way to securing their future top flight status, anything less opens up a tense final two weeks of the season.
Whilst the top division teams scramble for the title in Division 2 it is the second promotion place where all the interest is focused. Cowcliffe A have already won the title and promotion but who goes up with them is still a very open affair. All three contenders have to play each other for that cherished spot with Denby Dale in pole position. All three have three matches left to play with Denby Dale's final day clash against the Champions, Cowcliffe A. The full remaining programme is below and you can make a case for each of the three teams but it is clear that if Denby Dale can win 2 of their 3 remaining matches then they will be odds on to complete the task.
DIVISION 2 PROMOTION RACE REMAINING FIXTURES Teams in 2nd, 3rd & 4th positions chasing the 2nd promotion place
There is still the matter of which two teams are to be relegated to be resolved as well with any 2 from 4 still in the frame. None of the bottom four teams have won any of their last three matches. Two of those four teams meet this week as Brockholes A take on Lockwood Con A and with both having played a match more than the bottom two teams cannot afford to miss out on grasping this final lifeline.
Even a win may not be good enough if the League does revert to 8 teams in each division for next season which would see three teams relegated from each division. That emphasises the plight of the bottom two teams, Huddersfield Recreation Club A and Springwood A, who have to play Milnsbridge A and Lindley Lib A respectively this week. Neither can be relegated this week but defeats would go a long way to narrowing the odds on that happening anyway.
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