Preview of games to be played on 6 & 7 August

 

Champions Appleby Frodingham, with a 30-point lead at the top of the table, visit Cawthorne, who are currently second-bottom and in desperate need of the points to avoid relegation, in a game that could have huge significance at both ends of the table. Second-placed Tickhill will be confident when they visit bottom club Whiston Parish Church, whose place in the division is looking increasingly tenuous. Wakefield Thornes, in third place, still have an outside chance of claiming the title, but have a difficult-looking task at home to Barnsley Woolley Miners, who are just eight points below them and whose record of only two defeats since mid-May is as good as anyone in the division. Level on points with Barnsley are Doncaster Town, who have won their last three games, and host the club immediately below themselves, Sheffield Collegiate, who have now lost their last three. Cleethorpes host Whitley Hall, with whom they are currently level in seventh place – both clubs needing the win to ensure they remain clear of the relegation places. Finally, Treeton are at home to Elsecar – the two clubs currently being in the bottom four and separated by just two points – in a game that is very difficult to call. Elsecar won at the Al-Murad in May, but Treeton have won the last two league encounters between the two at Washfield Lane. 

 

 

Leaders Aston Hall face a trip to Sheffield Collegiate 2nds, who, before last week’s defeat at Wickersley, had won six on the trot; but Aston Hall have lost only once all season, at home to Shiregreen in May, and now have eleven successive wins under their belts. The nearest challengers, Hallam, 28 points behind the leaders, have a home game against Wath, who have had a disappointing season, but can trouble anyone on their day. Wickersley Old Village are just six points behind Hallam, and will fancy their chances at Rockingham Colliery, who have not won since 11 June. Shiregreen, in fourth place, have had a fine season on their return to this level, and will look to consolidate their top four position when they visit Conisbrough. Fifth-placed Houghton Main have now lost four on the trot, and host Sprotbrough, who have won four out of five, and who will be looking to bounce back from last Sunday’s cup defeat against Hallam. Finally, Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds will see their home game against bottom side Green Moor as a golden opportunity to all but banish any relegation worries. 

 

 

Both the Division 1 top two face away games this weekend as Doncaster Town 2nds travel to Oughtibridge War Memorial and Darfield visit Sheffield Collegiate 3rds. Still just four points off the promotion places, third-placed Upper Haugh are at home to mid-table Wakefield Thornes 2nds; whilst fourth-placed Sheffield United look to keep their outside hopes of promotion with a win away to lowly South Kirkby. Elsewhere, bottom team Warmsworth are at Rotherham Town, who are not safe from relegation, and Coal Aston, just four points above the relegation zone, travel to fifth-placed Whitley Hall 2nds. 

 

 

Treeton 2nds dropped out of the Division 2 promotion places last weekend and will have another difficult task this time around when they travel to fifth-placed Aston Hall 2nds, just four points behind them. The team who replaced Treeton in the top three, Hallam 2nds, travel to play the side who beat them last week, tenth-placed Monk Bretton. Meanwhile, the top two both play at home; runaway leaders Ackworth host Norton Woodseats, who are not yet safe from relegation, and Wickersley Old Village 2nds play mid-table Hatfield Town at Northfield Lane. The bottom two both play away from home; Caribbean Sports face relegation-threatened Norton Oakes, whilst bottom team Thorpe Hesley & High Green travel to mid-table Penistone. 

 

 

There is a crucial game in the race for promotion in Division 3 as third-placed Parkhead play away at fourth-placed Sprotbrough 2nds with the gap between themjust two points. Wath 2nds will overtake the losers of this tussle if they can overcome relegation-threatened Worsbrough Bridge. League leaders Elsecar 2nds play host to Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds, currently occupying the third relegation slot; whilst second-placed Tickhill 2nds are also at home, in this case to Whiston Parish Church 2nds, who are currently 20 points from safety. Bradfield Village Fellowship are currently two points above the relegation places and will be desperate for a win at home to mid-table Frecheville Community; whilst bottom club Thorncliffe & Wentworth play away at Kexborough, who are safe in mid-table. 

 

 

Stocksbridge went top of Division 4 last weekend, but they will face a tough task to stay there when they face third-placed Higham at Royd Lane. Millhouses Works are only behind Stocksbridge on net run-rate and look to have an easier task at home to mid-table Rockingham Colliery 2nds. Fourth-placed Cawthorne 2nds sit just four points outside the top three and they travel to play Whiston Forge, who look in some trouble 26 points from safety. Handsworth Junior SC are also still in with a real chance of promotion, and they host Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds, who could still do with another win to secure their safety. The game between Shiregreen 2nds and Silkstone United will decide which of the two finishes the day in the relegation places, whilst bottom of the table Maltby Miners Welfare entertain Sheffield Collegiate 4ths, who, like Barnsley, could do with another win. 

 

 

It is tight at the top of Division 5, where the top three are separated by only eight points. League leaders Doncaster Town 3rds are the only team out of those sides to have a home game this weekend, and welcome mid-table Conisbrough 2nds. Below them, second-placed Wombwell Main will hope to remain in the promotion places with a win at relegation-threatened Hallam 3rds; whilst Upper Haugh 2nds will hope to keep up the pressure for the second promotion place when they travel to Sheffield University Staff, currently occupying the third relegation place. 20 points off the top three, fourth plays fifth as Fishlake host Rotherham Town 2nds – the only other remaining realistic promotion contenders. The bottom two clubs, Norton Oakes 2nds and Mexborough Athletic both play away from home against the two clubs in seventh and eighth places, Coal Aston 2nds and Darfield 2nds respectively. 

 

 

There are some interesting encounters in Division 6 this weekend as the promotion battle promises to go down to the wire. Top of the table Sheffield United 2nds will play host to third-placed Whitley Hall 3rds who sit just four points outside of the top two. Penistone 2nds currently hold the hotly contested second-place but also face a stern test as they travel to a fifth-placed Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds side just eight points below them in fifth place. Elsewhere, Green Moor 2nds could climb out of the relegation zone when they host Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds just six points ahead of them. Caribbean Sports 2nds could also close the gap to safety with a win at home to Sprotbrough 3rds, four points above the drop zone. In what is a tight race at both ends, Handsworth Junior SC 2nds will be hoping to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation places by beating relegated Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths. 

 

 

In Division 7, unbeaten Brookhouse and close-challengers Higham 2nds are 34 points clear of the rest, with Ackworth currently occupying the third promotion place. League leaders Brookhouse should maintain their 100% record when they entertain struggling Eden Grove Parklands; whilst Higham 2nds appear to have a tougher task when they visit fourth placed Warmsworth 2nds. Ackworth 2nds go to Mexborough Athletic 2nds, currently ten points from safety – with both sides really needing the points, but for differing reasons. The bottom two, Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds and Monk Bretton 2nds look doomed, and play each other at Wentworth, whilst there will be a mid-table clash when Millhouses Works 2nds travel to Frecheville Community 2nds. 

 

 

Out of the current top three, only Division 8 leaders Hatfield Town 2nds have a home game this weekend, and they play host to bottom team Fishlake 2nds. Second-placed Houghton Main 2nds will travel to Wath 3rds, who are in desperate need of the points to pull clear of the relegation places; whilst third-placed Doncaster Town 4ths make the trip to play Silkstone United 2nds – still not safe in seventh place. Currently eight points off the promotion places, Stocksbridge 2nds will welcome Scholes – currently vying with Wath 3rds to avoid the third relegation place. Finally, fifth travel to sixth as Worsbrough Bridge 2nds host Rockingham Colliery 3rds. 

 

 

There are just three games this weekend in Division 9, where Wombwell Main 2nds, level on points with Whiston Forge 2nds in third place, have the chance to pull clear with a double-header. Both games are at home as they host bottom club Sheffield United 3rds on Saturday and Eden Grove Parklands 2nds on Sunday. Second-placed Upper Haugh 3rds play mid-table Hampole & Skelbrooke in the other game. 

 

 

 

 

We wish the best of luck to Doncaster Town CC and Aston Hall CC who will represent our league in the ECB Vitality T20 competitions this Sunday 7 August. Doncaster are in the T20 Blast area finals at Wollaton CC in Nottinghamshire, where they will play Sleaford in the second area semi-final at 13.00. Aston Hall are in the T20 Plate area finals at Bawtry CC in Nottinghamshire, where they will play Bawtry of the Bassetlaw League in the first match at 10.30 and Driffield of YPLN in the third match. 

 

 

In the first of the semi-finals, Barnsley Woolley Miners face Clifton alliance of Yorkshire Premier League North at Shaw Lane (12.30 start). 

 

 

Two Division 3 sides, Elsecar 2nds and Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds will contest the final at Dark Lane, the home of Cawthorne CC, this Sunday (12 noon start).