Preview of games to be played on 28 & 29 May

 

Leaders Wakefield Thornes will want to put last week’s defeat at Shaw Lane behind them when they host a Cleethorpes side that have lost their last two games since climbing into third place. Hot on the leaders’ heels are reigning champions Appleby Frodingham, and they are at home to an Elsecar side who beat Treeton last week, but are still struggling for consistency. Sheffield Collegiate have now won three on the trot, and they face third-placed Tickhill at Abbeydale. Tickhill last week missed the chance to go joint top when they lost to bottom club Whiston Parish Church at Church Fields and a trip to Abbeydale might not be the easiest game in which to bounce back. Doncaster Town had been showing improved form before last week’s defeat at Collegiate, and will want to get back on track at home to Cawthorne; after losing to Elsecar last week, Treeton are in an unaccustomed bottom half place, and go to Baxter Field to face a Whitley Hall side who have started the season well; whilst Barnsley will look to build on last week’s impressive win, when they face Whiston at Shaw Lane in the battle of the bottom two. 

 

 

A big game in the Championship will take place at Middlecliffe Lane, where unbeaten leaders Hallam face Houghton Main. The home side have not really got going this season, but can beat anyone in the Division on their day and must be expected to give a good account of themselves. Second-placed Aston Hall are at home to Wath, who are in mid-table after an inconsistent start to the season. A lot will depend on Barnsley 2nds’ top order when they visit Northfield Road; Wickersley’s principal strength is their bowling, and after winning their last three, they will be hoping to put pressure on the leaders. Shiregreen have made a strong start to their life in the Championship, and will look to maintain their good form against lowly Sheffield Collegiate 2nds. Elsewhere there are two bottom half clashes, with tenth-placed Green Moor going to Sprotbrough, three places above them; whilst second-bottom Rockingham are at home to Conisbrough in eighth place. 

 

 

Doncaster Town 2nds will face a tough test in Division 1 this weekend as they look to keep their winning run at the top of the table at fifth-placed Coal Aston. A slip-up could see Darfield top the table as they look to close the eight-point gap at home to Wakefield Thornes 2nds. Oughtibridge continue to look for their first win at the opposite end of the standings and things aren’t about to get much easier as they travel to third-placed Sheffield United. Elsewhere, Rotherham Town produced a mammoth chase to overcome Warmsworth last time out, and they will play host to next-to-bottom South Kirkby hoping for a more straightforward game. Warmsworth themselves are at home to Upper Haugh, one of three teams 12 points above them; with the other game of the weekend being a bottom-half clash at Abbeydale, where Whitley Hall 2nds travel to play Sheffield Collegiate 3rds. 

 

 

Caribbean got their first win of the season in Division 2 last weekend but will have to work to carry on the momentum as they face fourth-placed Norton Woodseats on their home ground in the latest round of fixtures. A win may well see them move up the standings as second-bottom Thorpe Hesley & High Green host unbeaten league leaders Wickersley Old Village 2nds. Hot on the tail of the table-toppers, Ackworth have a visit to fifth-placed Hallam 2nds to contend with; whilst third-placed Treeton 2nds entertain Hatfield Town 2nds. The two other games of the weekend are in the bottom half of the table, and will see Penistone host Monk Bretton; whilst Norton Oakes visit Aston Hall 2nds. 

 

 

It is second versus fourth in Division 3 this weekend as Tickhill 2nds welcome Wath 2nds. Wath have the chance to leapfrog their opponents with a win, also allowing Frecheville Community to go second if they win their fixture away at bottom club Oughtibridge 2nds. Out in front of the chasing pack remain Elsecar 2nds, who will look to continue their unbeaten run at home to mid-table Kexborough. Meanwhile, strugglers Thorncliffe & Wentworth and Whiston Parish Church 2nds both have home fixtures, with the former seemingly having the more difficult task with fifth-placed Parkhead coming to visit; whilst Bradfield Village Fellowship are at Whiston. Finally, there is a mid-table clash in which Worsbrough Bridge will host Sprotbrough 2nds. 

 

 

Millhouses Works remain unbeaten in Division 4 and sit twelve points clear at the top going into the latest round of fixtures, with a trip to mid-table Stocksbridge on the menu. The team closest to Millhouses are Cawthorne 2nds, and they entertain Maltby Miners Welfare, who have won their last two. Further down the table, there is just a two-point gap between third-placed Sheffield Collegiate 4ths and fourth-placed Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds. The former face bottom club Silkstone United away from home while the latter welcome seventh-placed Rockingham Colliery 2nds. To wrap up the weekend’s fixtures, mid-table Handsworth are at home to lowly Shiregreen 2nds while Whiston Forge have a trip to Higham, just one place and four points above them. 

 

 

It is tight at the top of Division 5 going into the latest round of fixtures, with Upper Haugh 2nds sitting just a point behind league leaders Wombwell Main. Both sides have home games to contend with with Upper Haugh welcoming Fishlake in a top-four clash, whilst Wombwell entertain mid-table Rotherham Town 2nds. Doncaster Town 3rds lead the chasing pack in third, six points adrift of Upper Haugh, and this weekend sees them travel to tenth-placed Hallam 3rds. Meanwhile, Norton Oakes 2nds are still looking for their first win of the season, and they host ninth-placed Darfield 2nds in their latest attempt. Ten points above Oakes are Mexborough, who play away at mid-table Conisbrough 2nds. Finally, Sheffield University Staff in eighth will play host to Coal Aston 2nds, three places above them. 

 

 

Three teams are locked on 48 points at the top of Division 6 in what already promises to be an intriguing promotion race. Penistone 2nds are not in action this week, so Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds and Sheffield United 2nds have a chance to take a clear lead when they play their games in hand. Neither has an easy game, as Thorpe Hesley travel to fourth-placed Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds and on Sunday, United travel to play Wickersley Old Village 3rds, one of three sides on 38 points in joint fifth. Of the other two fifth-placed sides, Sprotbrough 2nds are at home to strugglers Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths, and Handworth 2nds go to ninth placed Whitley Hall. With just ten points separating the top seven, the top end of the table could have a completely different look tomorrow night. At the opposite end of the table, Caribbean 2nds will hope for their first win of the season away to mid-table Green Moor 2nds. 

 

 

Higham 2nds, Brookhouse and Ackworth 2nds are all on maximum points in Division 7, with the latter two having played a game less. This weekend will see one of those records ruined, when Ackworth entertain Higham. The latter will pull further away at the top with a win, whilst an Ackworth win and a Brookhouse win at fifth-placed Harley could see a three-way tie at the top. Elsewhere, at the bottom, Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds and Monk Bretton 2nds still await wins; Thorncliffe face seventh club Mexborough 2nds and Monk Bretton play Eden Grove Parklands in ninth. The other game of the weekend will see Warmsworth 2nds, in fourth place but 24 points behind Ackworth and Brookhouse, visit mid-table Millhouses Works 2nds. 

 

 

Hatfield Town 2nds sit ten points clear at the top of Division 8, but have a tight race behind them as second, third and fourth are separated by just two points. The three teams in the chasing pack are Houghton Main 2nds, who play away at mid-table Rockingham Colliery 3rds; Doncaster Town 4ths, who play host to bottom club Wath 3rds, and Stocksbridge 2nds, who travel to lowly Fishlake 2nds. Hatfield have a home game against strugglers Silkstone United 2nds and will be confident of maintaining their advantage at the top. Elsewhere, an early season mid-table fixture sees Dearne welcome Worsbrough Bridge 2nds. 

 

 

Whiston Forge 2nds are 12 points clear at the top of Division 9, having won all their first six games; their latest test comes at home to fourth-placed Hampole & Skelbrooke. Adwick-Le-Street sit ten points behind the front-runners and also have a home fixture, with fifth-placed Wombwell Main 2nds coming to town. Third-placed Upper Haugh 3rds are six points off the top two, and have an away game against Brookhouse 2nds in sixth. At the opposite end of the table Sheffield United 3rds are the only team in the division yet to win a game. They travel to mid-table Kexborough 2nds while fellow strugglers Eden Grove Parklands 2nds are at home to the team immediately above them, Rockingham Colliery 4ths. 

 

 

Sunday sees a full programme of eight games in the second round of the Mick Savage Trophy as follows: 

 

Aston Hall 2nds v Monk Bretton 

Coal Aston v Norton Woodseats 

Doncaster Town 2nds v Sheffield Collegiate 3rds 

Hallam 2nds v Upper Haugh 

Penistone v Wakefield Thornes 2nds 

Sheffield United v Ackworth 

South Kirkby v Whitley Hall 2nds 

Treeton 2nds v Hatfield Town 

 

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