Title contenders face far from easy tasks
It is the final Saturday of the Haslem-Sheppard Halifax AFL season tomorrow and the winners of two of the three divisions are still to be decided. Ryburn United, three point leaders over a Stump Cross side who have played a game less, complete their Premier Division campaign with a tough game against Challenge Cup finalists Warley Rangers.
With Warley’s ground unavailable, the game has been switched to Kebroyd.
Ryburn were 2-1 winners in the first league meeting but were beaten 4-2 by Warley in the cup quarter final at the same venue.
Warley have been busy, beating Shelf on Monday and Northowram on Wednesday, and their exertions could start to take a toll.
If Ryburn and Stump Cross win up then the title will be decided on goal difference and Stump hold a six goal advantage.
Stump Cross also face a tricky game when they travel to Northowram, who have a chance of finishing third on their return to the top flight.
However, Stump have recovered from their recent form slump and will not be in the mood to let the title slip.
The first division title will go to either Holmfield or Mixenden United. Holmfield are favourites to book a return to the top flight as champions after a one season absence.
Mick Paletorpe’s men host Halifax Irish Centre, whose recent good form has secured their safety, but does not look good enough to knock Holmfield’s title charge off course.
Mixenden United host unpredictable Volunteer Arms. Mixenden should win but Vol are well capable of producing a shock.
Third Division leaders Illingworth St Marys were crowned champions in midweek so the pressure is off for the trip to St Columbas.
Brighouse Sports, sure to finish second, round off a successful season away to Hebden Royd Red Star Reserves. Tomorrow Premier Division: Northowram v Stump Cross (D.Cartwright), Shelf United v Midgley United (I.Childs), Warley Rangers Halifax v Ryburn United (C.Salmons). Division One: Calder 76 Res v Salem (R.Gatenby), Greetland AFC Res v Denholme United (C.King), Mixenden United v Volunteer Arms (D.Sutcliffe), Holmfield AFC v Hx Irish Centre (A.Kay), Ryburn United Res v Stainland United (S.Hoyle), Sowerby Bridge v Midgley United Res (TBC). Division Two: AFC Crossleys Res v Sowerby Bridge Res (P.Crabtree), Hebden Royd Red Star Res v Brighouse Sports AFC (S.Dennis), Shelf FC v Salem Res (N.Hoyle), St Columbas v Illingworth St Mary’s (P.Higgins). Monday Ryburn United Res 6 AFC Crossleys 1 Ryburn: L.Brearley 4 N.Hargreaves J.Finch AFC Crossleys: C.Gladwin Sowerby Bridge Denholme United Bridge: J.Bedford, R.Pearson Denholme: M.Midgley 2 Wednesday Ryburn United Res Holmfield AFC Holmfield: C.Woodhouse 2, D.Kirman Sowerby Bridge Mixenden United Bridge: J.Bedford Mixenden: A.Bailey A.Gaze T.Allinson
P WD L F A Pts Holmfield AFC 25 20 3 2 114 38 63 Mixenden Utd 24 18 4 2 112 41 58 Ryburn UtdRes 24 13 3 1 77 59 42 Denholme Utd 25 13 3 9 96 81 42 AFC Crossleys 25 13 2 10 97 102 41 Sowerby Bridge 23 14 1 8 80 62 40 Salem 25 12 2 11 74 84 38 Volunteer Arms 25 11 4 10 71 69 37 Elland Allstars 25 11 1 13 55 79 34 Midgley Utd Res 25 10 0 15 43 50 30 Calder 76 Res 25 7 5 13 58 60 26 Hx Irish Centre 23 6 4 13 51 89 22 Stainland United 25 5 1 19 52100 16 Greetland Res 25 3 1 21 42 108 10 Division Two AFC Crossleys Res Salem Res AFC Crossleys: R.Kenny A.Brunning Salem: S.Fieldhouse 3 R.Boyle 2 2 0 3 1 3 Brighouse Sports Illingworth St Marys 0 2 Denholme United Res Sowerby United Res Denholme: L.Kelly P.Roberts Sowerby: R.Allen 2 A.Haggerty J.Crossfield Northowram Res St Columbas Northowram: B.Abson St Columbas: G.Cooke B.Richardson Shelf FC Hebden Royd Red Star Res (Hebden Royd could not raise a team) Wednesday AFC Crossleys Res 0 Illingworth St Marys 3 Illingworth: M.Gregory, B.Field, G.Gaukroger Denholme United Res St Columbas Denholme: G.Flanagan, D.Allen, L.Kelly 2 4 1 2 P P 3 0
P WD L F APts Illingworth 20 19 0 1120 22 57 Brighouse Sports 21 17 1 3106 25 52 St Columbas 20 13 2 5 56 36 41 Shelf FC 20 12 3 5 69 45 39 Denholme Utd Res 20 10 1 9 50 55 31 Northowram Res 22 9 1 12 53 72 28 Hebden RRS Res 21 7 3 11 54 62 24 Sowerby United Res 22 5 5 12 52 72 20 AFC Crossleys Res 21 6 2 13 47 76 20 Salem Res 21 5 4 12 45 82 19 Shelf United Res 21 5 4 12 44 85 19 Sowerby Bridge Res 21 2 4 15 37 95 10 West Riding County Amateur League Premier Division Saturday Littletown Ovenden West Riding Littletown: L McKeown Ovenden WR: A Bailey 3 C Pownall 2 A Gregory 2 J Carney 1 8 Wednesday Storthes Hall Ovenden WR Ovenden WR: H Kerris M Waller
P WD L F A Pts Golcar United 24 21 1 2 73 26 67 Campion 23 18 0 5 76 21 54 Bay Athletic 19 16 0 3 54 15 48 Storthes Hall 22 15 2 5 77 40 47 Ovenden WR 20 14 2 4 89 19 44 Lower Hopton 23 12 2 9 59 43 38 Steeton 22 9 3 10 52 43 30 Salts 23 9 2 12 42 46 29 Hunsworth 24 7 3 14 41 82 27 Littletown 21 6 3 12 33 65 21 Huddersfield YM 25 5 5 15 25 64 20 Halifax Irish 25 53 17 35 76 18 Kirkburton 25 7 1 17 40 83 16 Tyersal 26 1 5 20 38 111 8 *midweek results not included Ziggys Metro Cars Halifax Sunday League Premier Division Hollins Holme Old Pond
PW Carrington 14 13 Hollins Holme 17 12 Lee Mount 17 10 Old Pond 18 8 Waiters Arms 16 7 Halifax Hammers 12 7 FC Bowling Green 17 5 Elland Sports 17 5 Oddfellows 15 2 Feathers 17 1 D L GD 10 64 1 4 30 2 5 10 28 -10 2 7 -3 1 4 3 5 7 -4 39 -12 1 12 -42 2 14 -36 0 2 2 1 Pts 40 37 32 26 23 22 20 18 7 5