League News
Thongsbridge 'A' took full advantage of being the only Division 1 team of the top 4 with a home fixture this week, doubled with the fact that their opponents were foot of the table Ossett Flying Horse 'A', made it a time to put their foot to the floor and that they certainly did. Foot firmly to the floor to accelerate away from the pack and open up a 5-point lead with an 11-1 home win. Pudsey 'A' fared best of the chasing pack winning 8-4 away at Denby Grange 'A'. There were two very close scorelines both involving Lower Hopton sides as the 'A' team shared the points 6-6 at Littlemoor 'A' taking the aggregate 168-167. Then the B side also took the aggregate points with a similar one-point advantage 176-175 and a 7-5 points total outcome. The way that the league table is developing it increasingly looks like two separate competitions are forming. The top 3 are starting to pull away and the rest are in a relegation battle with Ossett Flying Horse 'A' currently 10-points adrift at the foot but then just 5 points between the next 6 teams jockeying to stay out of that second drop zone spot. Those 6 teams all have a Won-2 Lost-3 playing record to date so picking up the extra game points in defeat are proving to be increasingly vital. Both the promoted teams are in that pack but both appear to be making a solid attempt to settle at this higher level and no-one should be assuming that they intend to make an immediate return. Interesting at both ends.
In Division 2 this week's fixture setup was the opposite as it certainly did not favour the leaders as Kirkheaton Con 'A' were the only team of the top 4 that were playing away this week. Again a one-point difference in the aggregate over Eccleshill was key to the share out of points as the Cons won that battle 181-180 to win the match 7-5. Woodlands Park certainly played their part in pushing the leaders all the way with a 12-0 whitewash win over Whitkirk. Alverthorpe 'A' also played their part in retaining third spot with a 10-2 home win over The Harold Club which left their visitors still at the foot of the table. Pudsey 'B' remain 4th following their 6-6 home draw and just a 3-point aggregate difference (189-192) going against them. Crossgates 'B' recorded their first win of the season in emphatic style with a 10-2 home win over Brighouse Sports and move out of the drop zone as a result.
The top two teams in Division 3 had good wins and are now lodged together on the same number of points but crucially Ossett C&AC have a game in hand over Littlemoor 'B' who extended Milnsbridge's losing run to 5 when beating them 8-4 on their own green. Ossett's 9-3 home win over Elland C&BC was a setback to their visitors own title aspirations but they remain in the tight group of 4 at the head of the table separated by 3 points. Cleckheaton Sports 'A' are aiming to be part of that competition for the promotion places and they did their chances no harm with a 6-6 away draw at Dodworth who are also in that leading pack. Crucially despite winning the games 6-4 they missed out on the aggregate 156-166. The bottom two are increasingly looking to be seriously off the pace with Rothwell's 11-1 win over bottom team Horbury pushing them well away from the relegation area and leaving the bottom two 12 points away from safety.
Division 4 leaders Broad Oak 'A' got a hot reception at Thornhill C&BC and left with just 1 of the 12 points up for grabs which enabled the hosts to leapfrog them and Lowerhouses (on a bye) to take over at the top. Foot of the table Spen Victoria 'B' did themselves a huge favour by beating their fellow strugglers Denby Grange 'B' 8-4 to move within 2 points of them. Defeats for Farsley and Mirfield Old Bank means that they are also involved in the relegation scrap with four teams separated by 4 points at present.
Morton House made it 5 wins from 5 matches when winning 9-1 away to Cowcliffe who drop into a Division 5 relegation spot as a result. Heckmondwike are hanging in there and an 8-2 home win over bottom-of-the-table Marsh United means that they are 4 points behind the leaders and 5 ahead of Alverthorpe in third place. Alverthorpe having a bit of a setback with a 1-9 defeat at The Harold Club 'B' who moved within a point of them as a result. Cleckheaton Sports 'B' beat Lockwood Con 8-2 to leapfrog their visitors in mid-table whilst the closest match of the day featured Almondbury Lib and Longwood who drew 5-5 and also had the aggregate draw of 144-144. That left Almondbury Lib still looking for their first win of the season having now drawn 2 of their 5 matches to date.
The top three teams in Division 6 all won their home matches this week with Golcar Lib going level at the top with Netherton Con after their 9-1 win over Milnsbridge 'B' who picked up their first point this year when David Peacock won his game 21-19. Netherton Con's 8-2 home win over Thongsbridge 'B' means they stay top courtesy of a better 'Aggregate For' total. Grange Moor overtook the Thongsbridge team into 3rd place after beating Bradley & Colne 7-3. Thorpe Green 'A' also had a good day with a 9-1 win over Almondbury BC and completed a sequence of all home teams in the division winning their matches.
Royds Park moved to the top of the Division 7 table despite losing 3-7 at Springwood A who extended their winning run to 3 which now includes both teams directly above them so seem poised to catch both if they use their game in hand to good effect. Broad Oak 'B' beat Springwood 'B' 7-3 to move above them on a better 'Aggregate For' total. Three Division 7 matches last week and three home wins with Dalton completing that sequence when overcoming Thorpe Green 'B' 8-2 to leave their visitors stranded at the foot of the table on 8 points from 4 matches.
HuddWeb is now providing weekly postings covering the Matchday Preview and Results Round-Up for 6 local bowling leagues - the Huddersfield Saturday League, Mirfield League, Ladies Works League, Veterans 10-Man League, Veterans 6-Man League and the Huddersfield Winter League. Trying to cover the gap left by The Examiner.
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