Preview of games on 30/31 July

 

The match-of-the-day in the Premier Division is at Brumby Hall, where first meet second. Appleby Frodingham have won five of their last six games, but after reaching the top of the table earlier this month, Tickhill have faltered slightly, losing their last two games. The visitors will want to register a vital win to complete a double of the champions, and get their title bid back on track. The nearest challengers to the top two are third-placed Wakefield Thornes, currently 36 points behind the leaders, and for them to retain the slightest chance of winning the title, they cannot afford any more defeats. Tomorrow they are at home to Cawthorne, one of four clubs fighting to avoid finishing in the bottom two. All four of these are away tomorrow, with Treeton and Cleethorpes facing tough challenges against Barnsley Woolley Miners and Sheffield Collegiate respectively; whilst the fourth member of the quartet, Elsecar go to Baxter Field, knowing that a win could see them draw level with their opponents Whitley Hall, and thus drag them into the relegation battle. Finally, bottom club Whiston Parish Church go to Town Fields, to play mid-table Doncaster Town, who will be saying goodbye to influential overseas all-rounder Umar Amin after the game. 

 

 

Championship leaders Aston Hall face the only side that has beaten them in a league game this season, Shiregreen. The leaders will be seeking a revenge win that will enable them to maintain their 28-point lead over nearest challengers Hallam. The latter visit Hoyland Common to play second-bottom side Rockingham, who have now lost six games on the trot. Third-placed Wickersley Old Village will have a tough assignment when Sheffield Collegiate 2nds visit Northfield Lane. When the sides met in May, Collegiate were in the middle of a six-game losing run – now, they are the form side in the division with six successive wins under their belts. It has been a disappointing campaign so far for Houghton Main, currently lying 34 points off the promotion places in fifth; they face Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds, who have won only once in seven, and could do with a win to avoid being sucked into a relegation battle. Bottom club Green Moor go to joint-eighth club Wath, who, like themselves, have won only once in the last four games. Level on points with Wath are Sprotbrough, who on Sunday will defend the Whitworth Cup against Hallam, and are at home to Conisbrough, just one place and 12 points above them in the table. 

 

 

Division 1 leaders Doncaster Town 2nds, who have now won only one of their last four, face a test of their resolve this weekend when they travel to fourth-placed Sheffield United. Second-placed Darfield sit 12 points behind them with a favourable net run-rate and welcome relegation-threatened South Kirkby. Four points outside the promotion spots, third-placed Upper Haugh travel to Sheffield Collegiate 3rds, who are still part of a tight battle to avoid slipping into the relegation places. With the bottom five separated by just 14 points, it promises to be an intriguing end to the season. Both Coal Aston and Warmsworth are currently in the drop zone with South Kirkby, but both have home games, against mid-table clubs Wakefield Thornes 2nds and Oughtibridge War Memorial, respectively. Rotherham Town are hovering just above the relegation places, and play host to Whitley Hall 2nds in fifth place. 

 

 

There is an intriguing encounter near the top of Division 2 this weekend, as second-placed Wickersley Old Village 2nds travel to fourth-placed Aston Hall 2nds. The gap between the two teams is 12 points and Aston Hall, given their higher net run-rate, would climb into the promotion places if Wickersley fail to pick up any points. Elsewhere, both league leaders Ackworth and Treeton 2nds, who are in third, play teams in the relegation places; Ackworth at Thorpe Hesley & High Green and Treeton at home to Monk Bretton. Caribbean Sports are the third club in the relegation zone and they host Hatfield Town; whilst Norton Oakes can move further away from trouble if they win at Penistone. Finally, Hallam 2nds, who are still in the promotion race, will entertain eighth-placed Norton Woodseats. 

 

 

Division 3 leaders Elsecar lost their 100% record last weekend when they were defeated by third-placed Parkhead. They will look to bounce back as they play host to Bradfield Village Fellowship, just twelve points above the relegation zone; whilst their conquerors will travel to play to Worsbrough Bridge, who are level on points with Bradfield. Second-placed Tickhill 2nds are at home to mid-table Kexborough. At the other end of the table, all the bottom three have home games. Bottom side Thorncliffe & Wentworth will entertain mid-table Frecheville Community; Whiston Parish Church 2nds are at home to Sprotbrough 2nds, who will not have given up on promotion in fifth place; and Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds play fourth-placed Wath 2nds. 

 

 

The promotion race in Division 4 is as tight as ever, with third promotion spot still realistically being contested by five teams. Higham currently hold that place and play host to Shiregreen 2nds, who need the points to avoid relegation. Above them, the top twos’ positions look fairly secure – league leaders Millhouses Works are away to Handsworth Junior SC who are one of the five contesting third place, whilst second-placed Stocksbridge host bottom club Maltby Miners Welfare. Fourth-placed Cawthorne 2nds are just four points behind Higham and have a tough home game against sixth-placed Sheffield Collegiate 4ths. Silkstone United will look to climb out of the relegation zone with a win at home to Rockingham Colliery 2nds; whilst fellow strugglers Whiston Forge travel to Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds. 

 

 

Everything tightened up at the top of Division 5 last weekend after Doncaster Town 3rds usurped Wombwell Main to become the new league leaders. Third-placed Upper Haugh 2nds now sit just six points behind the top two and their next game is at home to eighth club Darfield 2nds. Wombwell will look to bounce back at home to mid-table Coal Aston 2nds; whilst Doncaster travel to play relegation-threatened Sheffield University Staff. At the bottom, Hallam 3rds could climb out of the relegation zone with a win, although it will be tough at home to fourth-placed Fishlake. Bottom two Norton Oakes 2nds and Mexborough Athletic play each other, and there is a mid-table clash at Park Road, where Conisbrough 2nds play Rotherham Town 2nds. 

 

 

Four fixtures will take place tomorrow in Division 6 and the top two both play away from home. Leaders Sheffield United 2nds travel to play mid-table Green Moor 2nds; whilst second-placed Penistone 2nds face a hard task away to fifth club Whitley Hall 3rds. At the opposite end of the table Sprotbrough 3rds, just two points from safety, host mid-table Handsworth Junior SC 2nds knowing they could climb out of the drop zone if they win and Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds fail to beat bottom club Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths. 

 

 

Division 7 leaders Brookhouse are now the only team in the YCSPL yet to drop a point this season. They will face a challenge to that record this weekend, however, as they travel to play fourth-placed Millhouses Works 2nds. Second-placed Higham 2nds play away to basement team Monk Bretton 2nds; whilst third-placed Ackworth 2nds have the weekend off. Elsewhere, Mexborough Athletic 2nds could close the ten-point gap to safety as they play host to Warmsworth 2nds, but this would will depend on on Eden Grove Parklands losing convincingly at Harley. Finally, second to bottom Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds will play away to mid-table Frecheville Community 2nds. 

 

 

Division 8 leaders, Hatfield Town 2nds, are some 26 points clear of the field and they play host to mid-table Worsbrough Bridge 2nds. Below them, there is a huge game as second-placed Doncaster Town 4ths are at home to Houghton Main 2nds in third. At the bottom, both Wath 3rds and Dearne remain in the hunt for safety as they play away at Fishlake 2nds and at home to Stocksbridge 2nds, respectively. Wath also play on Sunday at home to Silkstone United 2nds, who could still be pulled into a relegation battle. 

 

 

Third-placed Whiston Forge 2nds have the chance to cement their place in the Division 9 promotion spots this weekend as they play a double-header. They will host fourth-placed Wombwell Main 2nds on Saturday, before travelling to strugglers Rockingham Colliery 4ths on Sunday. The latter will cap off a tough weekend for Rockingham as they play away to league leaders Adwick-le-Street tomorrow. Elsewhere, second-placed Upper Haugh 3rds will see their game away to strugglers Eden Grove Parklands 2nds as a must-win; whilst bottom club Sheffield United 3rds play mid-table Brookhouse 2nds and, finally, Kexborough 2nds welcome Hampole & Skelbrooke. 

 

 

 

 

Hallam and Sprotbrough will contest the 49th ExtraCover Insurance Whitworth Cup final this Sunday, 31 July, at Wickersley Old Village CC, Northfield Lane, Wickersley S66 2HL, with a 12 noon start. Sprotbrough are the holders, having also won the trophy in 2018, whilst Hallam are seeking to win the trophy for the first time. The bar will be open for refreshments during the game. All are welcome! 

 

Please note that: 

 

 

 

On Sunday, the outstanding quarter-final tie will be played, between Wakefield Thornes and Woodhouse Grange at Field Lane – 12.30pm start. 

 

 

Also this Sunday, Yorkshire will play Surrey in the ECB over 50s County Championship at the Al-Murad Stadium, Elsecar (1pm start). The bar is open from 12noon and refreshments are available.