Winter League
All Winter League bowlers are looking at the weather forecast in the hope that the big thaw arrives in time to enable the Division 4 teams to ensure that their Monday fixtures go ahead which will mean that they, at least, have avoided any disruption to their fixture programme.
We still have the threat of Storm Bert as well to contend with and hopefully he will not dump too much rain on us all to waterlog our matchday greens. Division 4 teams were the last to see action last Monday and hope to pick up where they left off this Monday. In anticipation of a resumption of play I offer this preview of the Division 4 scheduled fixtures for Monday.
Linthwaite Hall A have a slender two-point lead over their two prime rivals for the Division 4 title and promotion. They will be confident of at least preserving that advantage when they take on the bottom team Thorpe Green B this Monday. The Thorpe Green B team are still looking for their first win of the season whereas Linthwaite Hall A haven't lost since the opening day of the season. That should only lead to one result but you never know things can change especially where a different surface may await the two teams.
Slaithwaite sit in second place and along with third-placed Rastrick are just two points adrift of the leaders. Slaithwaite take on second from bottom Netherton Con A who have lost their last three matches after heading the table in October. Rastrick remain a potent threat but they have the most difficult-looking task this week when they face 4th-placed Primrose Hill Lib who had a major setback last week when on the wrong end of a whitewash scoreline to rivals Slaithwaite and will be keen to bounce back from that against another top rival.
Dalton and Milnsbridge B are both looking at the threat from teams below them in the table rather than have aspirations of joining the promotion battle. Although that threat may not materialise this week both teams would be happier to put some distance between themselves and the teams in the drop zone. This head-to-head between the two sides could provide the platform to move on up for one of the teams so the result is important to both as the loser could be joining the fight at the foot of the table.
The host greens are aiming to catch up with their postponed matches this coming week and in total there are 11 sets of matches scheduled over the coming 5 days. On top of the Monday Division 4 programme we can look forward to a busy week of action if the weather is kind to us.
There are three sets of fixtures on Tuesday as the Division 6 Thursday fixtures lost at Netherton Con last week are due to be played this Tuesday. That is in addition to the usual Tuesday fare at Cowcliffe and Lockwood Con.
On Wednesday we have a choice of four venues showcasing Winter League bowling as Cowcliffe try a rerun of last week's postponed Division 2 matches. That is on top of the usual Wednesday action at Milnsbridge, Springwood and Lindley Lib.
Moving on to Thursday where we have Divisions 6 and 7 fixtures and we are hoping for some bowling at Netherton Con and Huddersfield RUFC.
And hopefully we will have some Friday action at Springwood where a third attempt will be made to play the Division 3 programme first postponed on Wednesday 20 November and then postponed for a second time last Friday.
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