Preview of games to be played on 23 & 24 July

 

Leaders Appleby Frodingham host Whitley Hall, both clubs having enjoyed excellent wins last week, over Sheffield Collegiate and Tickhill respectively. The Steelmen won the first encounter in May, but Whitley put up a great fight at Brumby Hall at the end of last season, going down by just four runs. Tickhill are at home to Barnsley Woolley Miners, and will want to bounce back from last week’s defeat and ensure that they are within touching distance of the leaders for when the two sides meet the following week. Despite last week’s defeat to Elsecar, Barnsley have been one of the division’s form sides over the last two months. Wakefield Thornes still have an outside chance of the title, and they visit Treeton, who need the points to climb away from the relegation zone. Sheffield Collegiate, in fourth, visit Cawthorne, currently in eleventh place, two adrift of Treeton. Elsecar have now won four out of five and with hope to maintain their improved form when they host mid-table Doncaster, who emphatically ended a three-game losing run at home to Treeton last Saturday. Finally, Cleethorpes will hope to make it three on the trot when they travel to bottom club Whiston Parish Church. 

 

 

Leaders Aston Hall are now 28 points clear at the top of the table, and are at home to Houghton Main, who really need the win to keep their outside promotion hopes alive. Hallam and Wickersley Old Village appear to be fighting it out for second place – this week Hallam, with a six-point advantage, are at home to Sprotbrough, who have won their last three in addition to reaching the Whitworth Cup final – for which this game is a dress rehearsal. Wickersley lost to the leaders last week, but will hope to bounce back straightaway when they visit bottom club Green Moor. The bottom two are already 28 points adrift at the bottom, and it does not look likely to get better for either, as second-bottom Rockingham Colliery, without a point in five games, are away to Sheffield Collegiate 2nds, who have turned round their season with wins in their last five outings. Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds could probably do with another win to ensure safety, and they host Conisbrough, who have lost their last three. Finally, Wath are at home to Shiregreen, who are looking for their tenth win of a very successful campaign so far. 

 

 

Doncaster Town 2nds and Darfield extended their lead in the promotion places of Division 1 last weekend whilst third-placed Upper Haugh had the weekend off. This time around, league leaders Town are at home to relegation-threatened Sheffield Collegiate 3rds whilst Darfield travel to fifth-placed Whitley Hall 2nds. Upper Haugh look to boost their chances of catching the top two with a home game against another relegation-threatened side, South Kirkby. Elsewhere, bottom side Warmsworth are away to mid-table Wakefield Thornes 2nds; whilst fellow bottom-three side Coal Aston are at home to fourth-placed club Sheffield United. In another game that may have a bearing on relegation Oughtibridge War Memorial are at home to Rotherham Town, both needing the points to keep clear of the bottom three. 

 

 

Ackworth hold a commanding lead at the top of Division 2 as teams around them continue to falter. Their latest game is at home to mid-table Penistone whilst second-placed Wickersley Old Village 2nds play host to bottom-three side Monk Bretton. Third-placed Treeton 2nds lost ground on the top two after their loss last weekend and will look to bounce back at Norton Oakes. Aston Hall 2nds are level on points with Treeton in third and travel to mid-table Norton Woodseats. The bottom three are 26 points adrift of the rest, but Caribbean Sports, in particular, keep fighting to pull themselves away from trouble, and are at home to Hallam 2nds, who are still fighting for promotion. Bottom side Thorpe Hesley & High Green are away to mid-table Hatfield Town. 

 

 

Division 3 leaders Elsecar 2nds face a tough test to maintain their 100% record this season when they travel to third-placed Parkhead. Fellow promotion contenders Tickhill 2nds are away to Sprotbrough 2nds, who are just 14 posts outside the promotion places. Wath 2nds are just outside the promotion places and are away to Bradfield Village Fellowship, who need the points to keep clear of the relegation zone. In the relegation places, bottom side Thorncliffe & Wentworth, could potentially climb out of the drop zone on net run rate if they can overcome joint-ninth club Worsbrough Bridge. The two teams above them in the relegation places, Whiston Parish Church 2nds and Oughtibridge 2nds, both have away games, playing mid-table Frecheville Community and fifth-placed Kexborough respectively. 

 

 

The race for survival at the bottom of Division 4 remains tight with the bottom four separated by 14 points. They face varying challenges this weekend as Whiston Forge and Silkstone United face league leaders Millhouses Works and third-placed Cawthorne 2nds respectively. Bottom side Maltby Miners Welfare also face a tough battle at home to fourth-placed Higham while ninth-placed Shiregreen 2nds could climb away from trouble if they win at home to Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds, who are just one place above them. At the top, Stocksbridge will look to keep their hands firmly on second place as they travel to Rockingham Colliery 2nds, who are still in with a shout of promotion, whilst sixth plays seventh as Sheffield Collegiate 4ths host Handsworth Junior SC. 

 

 

There is a huge game at the top of Division 5 this weekend, when second-placed Doncaster Town 3rds play host to league leaders Wombwell Main, with top place in the table at stake. A loss for Town could see Upper Haugh 2nds climb above them into the promotion places if they win their game away to mid-table Rotherham Town 2nds. The bottom two have become cut adrift from the rest of the division with a 34-point gap; between second bottom Norton Oaks 2nds and Hallam 3rds, who are currently in the third relegation spot, but who still have a realistic chance of climbing away from danger. Hallam’s latest game is a must-win clash away to second-bottom Mexborough Athletic. Basement side Norton Oakes 2nds are away to mid-table Conisbrough 2nds. Meanwhile, eighth-placed Darfield 2nds will play host to Sheffield University Staff, one place below them, whilst Coal Aston 2nds in seventh will go to Fishlake, who still have an outside chance of promotion in fourth. 

 

 

It remains tight at the top of Division 6, where the top team, Sheffield United 2nds, do not play this weekend. Second-placed Penistone 2nds can go level on points with the leaders with a win at home to relegation-threatened Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds. The two clubs just outside the top two, Wickersley Old Village 3rds and Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds, also remain firmly in the promotion hunt and they play away to mid-table Handsworth Junior SC 2nds and at home to second-bottom Caribbean Sports 2nds respectively. Elsewhere, Sprotbrough 3rds will start their game away to fifth-placed Whitley Hall 3rds just two points from safety while bottom team, Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths, play host to Green Moor 2nds, who still need the points to keep clear of the relegation zone. 

 

 

Both of the top two in Division 7 have home games this weekend, as they look to maintain their commanding position in the promotion places. At the top, Brookhouse still with a 100% record, host mid-table Frecheville Community 2nds; whilst Higham 2nds entertain Millhouses Works 2nds in fifth place, but still with a chance of promotion. Below them, third-placed Ackworth 2nds will hope to consolidate their position in the promotion places when they play away to second-bottom Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds. Elsewhere, there is a big game at the bottom as a win for third-bottom Eden Grove Parklands will see them climb out of the relegation zone at the expense of their opponents, Mexborough Athletic 2nds. Elsewhere, bottom team Monk Bretton 2nds will welcome mid-table Harley. 

 

 

Four fixtures will take place this weekend in Division 8, and league leaders Hatfield Town 2nds travel to Wath 3rds, level with Dearne in eighth place, and needing the points to pull out of the relegation zone. Dearne have a similarly tough game at third-placed Houghton Main 2nds. Four points below Dearne and Wath are Scholes, who need nothing less than a win from their game at home to bottom team Fishlake 2nds. Elsewhere, second-placed Doncaster Town 4ths face a trip to fifth-placed Rockingham Colliery 3rds. 

 

 

The Division 9 leaders, Adwick-le-Street have been in great form in recent weeks but will not play this weekend. All three teams below them have a game in hand and all three of them will be at home as they look to put pressure on the leaders. Second-placed Whiston Forge 2nds will entertain mid-table Brookhouse 2nds, third-placed Upper Haugh 3rds play second-bottom Rockingham Colliery 4ths, and fourth-placed Wombwell Main 2nds play host to Kexborough 2nds, who are level with Brookhouse in sixth. Elsewhere, eighth-placed Eden Grove Parklands 2nds travel to Hampole & Skelbrooke, who are currently fifth. 

 

 

This Sunday sees the final group stage of the YCSPL T20 Blast, with games starting at 10.00 at:  

 

 

The teams are fighting to be in the top four of the T20 Blast table in order to qualify for finals day on Sunday 14 August – these places currently being occupied by Barnsley Woolley Miners, Cawthorne, Cleethorpes and Doncaster Town, who are all on six points, along with holders Appleby Frodingham, fifth on net run rate. With two points for a win, Sheffield Collegiate, Tickhill, Wakefield Thornes and Whitley Hall could all come into contention with two wins on Sunday. 

 

There is also this Sunday the second semi-final in the Mick Savage Trophy between Norton Woodseats and Aston Hall 2nds (12.30) and there will be two semi-finals in the Billy Oates Memorial Cup (13.30): 

 

Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds v Whitley Hall 3rds 

Upper Haugh 3rds v Stocksbridge 2nds