Preview of games on 16/17 July

 

The big game in the division is at Abbeydale, where second-placed Appleby Frodingham play Sheffield Collegiate, who are in third place, albeit 24 points behind their visitors; both sides have won three of their last four games, whilst the Steelmen won the first game in April. Leaders Tickhill visit Baxter Field to play Whitley Hall, who have lost their last four league games and over whom they had a six-wicket win at Alderson Drive at the end of April. Wakefield Thornes, whose title bid has been hit by three successive defeats, are at home to bottom club Whiston Parish Church. Barnsley Woolley Miners’ seven wins in their last eight games is the best run in the division, and they are at home to Elsecar, who need the points to keep out of the bottom two – Elsecar won the first game between the two, when both were looking for their first win of the season. There is a key clash at the bottom end of the table at Chichester Road, where Cleethorpes, level on points with Treeton in eighth place, are at home to second-bottom Cawthorne, over whom they had a six-wicket win in April. Treeton themselves visit Town Fields to play Doncaster Town, hoping to gain revenge for their earlier home defeat to Town. 

 

 

There is a huge game in the Championship at Northfields Road, where the top two meet; leaders Aston Hall won the first game between the two at Green Lane in April, but Wickersley have lost only once since, and a keenly-fought contest is anticipated. Whatever happens in that game, third-placed Hallam will want to be in a position to take advantage, and will be looking for a double over Conisbrough at Park Road; both sides have faltered a little of late after good runs, with two defeats in their last three games. There should be another close game at Middlecliffe Lane, where fourth-placed Houghton Main welcome Sheffield Collegiate 2nds; Houghton won at Abbeydale back in April but Collegiate have now won four on the trot. Shiregreen are another club that has faltered after a good run, having lost their last two; they welcome bottom club Green Moor, who had a comfortable morale-boosting win over Rockingham last week. The latter, still next-to-bottom, host Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds, who will be hoping to end a five-match losing run and pull away from the relegation places. Finally, two very talented if under-performing sides, Sprotbrough and Wath, meet at Melton Road, where the visitors will be seeking revenge for their 42-run defeat in April. 

 

 

Bottom team Oughtibridge War Memorial have a big chance to climb out of the Division 1 relegation zone this weekend as they travel to Sheffield Collegiate 3rds, who sit just eight points above them in ninth place. This is a big opportunity, as both the teams above them in the bottom three, Coal Aston and Warmsworth, have games against the top two. Warmsworth are at home to league-leaders Doncaster Town 2nds, while Coal Aston are away at second-placed Darfield. Upper Haugh are 16 points behind the top two in third and will look to keep up their promotion push at Rotherham Town. Elsewhere, fourth-placed Sheffield United will play host to Wakefield Thornes 2nds and Whitley Hall 2nds will make the trip to the Old Mill Ground to play South Kirkby. 

 

 

Division 2 leaders Ackworth extended their advantage at the top last weekend when they thrashed Norton Oakes. This time around, they face a tough test as they travel to fourth-placed Aston Hall 2nds. Things have tightened up below them as second-placed Wickersley 2nds were last week beaten by third-placed Treeton 2nds. The former will hope to bounce straight back at Penistone while the latter play host to strugglers Caribbean Sports. Meanwhile, both the bottom two sides, Monk Bretton and Thorpe Hesley & High Green, have home games against Norton Oakes and Norton Woodseats, respectively. Finally, fifth-placed Hallam 2nds will play host to mid-table Hatfield Town. 

 

 

Elsecar 2nds still maintain their winning run this season as they top Division 3 by 22 points. Their latest test comes at home to fifth-placed Sprotbrough 2nds. Elsecar’s exploits have rather overshadowed Tickhill 2nds’ excellent form in second, they also have a home game with Bradfield Village Fellowship paying them a visit. The gap to third-placed Kexborough is some 28 points with a trip to Wath 2nds next up for the pursuers. At the opposite end of the table, the standings are much tighter with eight points separating the bottom four. Strugglers Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds and Thorncliffe & Wentworth play each other knowing that the winner could well climb out of the drop zone. Knowing at least one team around them will pick up points, Whiston Parish Church 2nds and Worsbrough Bridge will be desperate for a result in their respective home games against Parkhead and Frecheville Community. 

 

 

The race for promotion is still wide open in Division 4 with some interesting fixtures coming up tomorrow. League leaders Millhouses Works have a 16-point cushion to third place but will be challenged when they travel to fourth-placed Higham. Stocksbridge currently occupy the other promotion spot and play host to Sheffield Collegiate 4ths in fifth, while third-placed Cawthorne 2nds welcome mid-table Rockingham Colliery 2nds. Things are similarly tight at the other end of the table, as eleventh-placed Shiregreen 2nds travel to tenth-placed Whiston Forge with both teams aiming to leap out of the relegation places. Silkstone United and bottom team Maltby Miners Welfare make up the bottom four, with both teams having away games at Handsworth Junior SC and Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds, respectively. 

 

 

Six teams have hit the 100-point mark in Division 6 and Wombwell still lead the table, by six points from Doncaster Town 3rds. Their latest fixture comes at home to fifth-placed Conisbrough 2nds, who still hold hopes of promotion. Doncaster know their position is vulnerable, having played a game more than teams around them, and make the trip to play Coal Aston 2nds. In the chasing pack, third-placed Upper Haugh 2nds play bottom side Mexborough Athletic and fourth-placed Fishlake are away to Sheffield University Staff. If the University lose their match, Hallam 3rds will have the chance to climb out of the drop zone with a win at home to Darfield 2nds. Fellow strugglers Norton Oakes 2nds are some 36 points behind in eleventh, their next fixture is at home to Rotherham Town 2nds. 

 

 

All of Division 6’s top three face away games this weekend as the fight for second place remains very tight. League leaders, Sheffield United 2nds are away to second-bottom Caribbean Sports 2nds; whilst second-placed Penistone 2nds travel to play Sprotbrough 3rds. Third-placed Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds have the chance to move away from teams below them when they play away to mid-table Green Moor 2nds. Meanwhile, relegation-threatened Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds and Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths will play at home to mid-table Handsworth Junior SC 2nds and away to promotion-seeking Wickersley Old Village 3rds, respectively. 

 

 

Brookhouse top Division 7 and remain one of just two teams to have won all their games this season. Next up for them is a trip to play mid-table Mexborough Athletic 2nds. Below them, Higham 2nds have been in similarly blistering form, having lost just two games all season to cement their promotion push, and have an away game at mid-table Harley. Elsewhere, third-placed Ackworth 2nds are the only team in the top four to have a home game, and they host bottom team Monk Bretton 2nds. Warmsworth 2nds occupy fourth spot and have a trip to Frecheville Community 2nds. At the other end of the table, Eden Grove Parklands are pushing to move out of the relegation zone with their latest fixture coming at Millhouses Works 2nds. 

 

 

The top two teams both have home games in Division 8 this weekend as they look to keep a tight grip on their positions. Leaders Hatfield Town 2nds will play host to fifth-placed Stocksbridge 2nds, and second-placed Doncaster Town 4ths will entertain Scholes. The three teams below them are separated by just two points, so Stocksbridge and third-placed Houghton Main 2nds, who travel to Fishlake 2nds, have the chance to move clear of fourth club Rockingham Colliery 3rds, who have the weekend off. At the bottom, Wath 3rds have the chance to move out of the relegation zone at the expense of their hosts, Dearne, in an intriguing fixture; whilst mid-table sides Silkstone United 2nds and Worsbrough Bridge 2nds play each other at Barnsley Road. 

 

 

Division 9 leaders, Adwick-le-Street face a testing game on Saturday as they play host to third-placed Upper Haugh 3rds. This might open the door for second-placed Whiston Forge 2nds to jump back gto the top of the table if they can win at mid-table Kexborough 2nds. The only other game to take place on Saturday is a mid-table clash between Brookhouse 2nds and Hampole & Skelbrooke. Sunday then sees two games; Eden Grove Parklands 2nds welcome Sheffield United 3rds in a bottom-three clash, and fourth-placed Wombwell 2nds travel to play next-to-bottom Rockingham Colliery 4ths. 

 

 

 

The semi-finals will be played this Sunday (13.30 start) and are: 

 

Norton Woodseats v Aston Hall 2nds 

Upper Haugh v Treeton 2nds 

 

 

Sunday is the Plate finals day at Sheffield Collegiate CC 

 

Semi-finals: 

Conisbrough v Aston Hall (10.00) 

Sprotbrough v Coal Aston (13.15) 

 

Final (16.30) 

 

The winners will play in the ECB Vitality Club T20 Plate first round on Sunday 7 August (to be hosted by the Bassetlaw League). The regional finals will be at Elsecar on Sunday 28 August. 

 

League tables