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as5680 · 12-05-2021, 07:56 AM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: MARCH 1874

The league season is now underway all around the country, with some leagues having played just one round of games while the Metropolitan League has played four, and the universities with their midweek games have played six.

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

The Old Westminsters are the only undefeated team in the Metropolitan League but they have played just two games after having their other two fixtures postponed. Three teams sit right behind them with three wins from four, including Clapham who won their first three and Hackney who lost on the opening day but have won all three since. Favourites Greenwich have seen a mixed start with two wins and two losses, while champions The Regent’s Park also have an even record but like the Westminsters, have played just twice so far. Of the new teams, Putney won their opening game against Kensington and have two victories from three so far, while the Commercial Dock Workers lost their first two heavily but rebounded to defeat Kensington for their first win.

Champions Isleworth have won both games in the Middlesex County League, albeit only after a sixteen-inning battle with the Old Harrovians last week. They share first place with Tottenham, who stunned favourites Edmonton with a ninth-inning comeback victory on the opening day. Edmonton and last year’s runners-up Ealing sit one game back after two rounds of fixtures. Croydon and Richmond were the winners on the opening day of play in the new Surrey County League, while the game between Reigate and Wimbledon was called off. Croydon now lead the way with two wins from two, while Wimbledon ended the month by winning their first game and are the other undefeated team. The Kent County League has played just one round of games, with champions Bexley Heath joining Maidstone, Rochester and Erith as winners.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

As widely expected, Miles Platting and champions Salford look as though they will be tough to beat in the Manchester and District League as both have won all three games so far. Indeed, Salford have scored in double figures in each of their last two. Bury and Rochdale, expected to have winning records again this year, have two wins to their names, as do unfancied Bolton, who finished last a year ago. The Liverpool and District League has only had one week of play, with champions Liverpool St Patrick’s defeating newcomers Anfield. Linacre and St Helens also won their opening games, as did the other new team Wigan, who earned a 1-0 success at well-backed Great Float. Two weeks into the inaugural season of the Lancashire County League, Accrington and Ribble are living up to their billing as the two favourites as both have won their first two games, although Ribble needed fully seventeen innings to get past Chorley on the opening day.

YORKSHIRE

Newcomers Batley have made their mark on the Leeds and Bradford League, winning all three of their games to sit in first place by themselves at the end of March. Their run included a comeback 3-2 victory over fellow new team Dewsbury, who have played just twice and lost both games. Champions Bradford won their first two before falling to Woodhouse, and those teams share second place with Halifax and Hunslet. After a poor season last time, Sheffield Philadelphia are the surprise early leaders in the Sheffield and District League, being the only club to win their first two. Their second win was an extra-innings success over champions Doncaster who had won their opening game. Doncaster share second place with Barnsley and Sanderson’s Weir, who have also been beaten by their near neighbours Sheffield.

MIDLANDS

There has only been one week of play in the Birmingham and District League, where champions Edgbaston opened up with a defeat at the hands of Small Heath. Other winners on day one were West Bromwich, Dudley and championship favourites Birmingham Main Line. In the new Derby and Nottingham League, Midland Loco are the only team to win their first two games. Indeed, they are yet to allow a run after 2-0 successes against both Sherwood and Trent Bridge. Old Basford were backed to have a good year but they are the only team yet to win after struggling for good pitching in their first two games.

SCOTLAND

Govan are the outright leaders of the Glasgow and District League after wins over White Cart, Burgh of Partick and Tollcross. The last of those left Tollcross, who had themselves won their first two, a game back in second place while everyone else has one win, including champions Burgh of Partick who lost their first two before defeating Lanark-Renfrew to end the month. Dunfermline are the surprise leaders of the East of Scotland League, as they too hold the only undefeated record in their league. Champions The Grange lost their opening game to Leith but have since won the next two and sit second, while favourites Arthur’s Seat have started slowly, struggling for runs in losing two of their three games.

UNIVERSITIES

Well fancied Magdalen College lead the way at Oxford University, having won five of their six games so far. Merton won their first four, but a postponement and defeat to Worcester College in their last game leave them fractionally behind Magdalen in second place. Having lost their last two, champions Balliol are struggling early on, far removed from a year ago when they won their first twelve games. At Cambridge, champions Clare College also won their first four but subsequent defeats at the hands of Queens’ and St John’s have dropped them back behind St Catharine’s and Trinity, both of whom have won their last four. St Catharine’s lead the way by a fraction having played and won one more game than Trinity.

In other news, this season may yet end with another new competition as a suggestion has come from the Burgh of Partick club that the best players of Scotland and England should face one another in a challenge match. Inspired by watching the association football match between the two countries which was played at their ground in early March, several of Partick’s players sought support from other Glasgow clubs for their idea and then put the suggestion to the leading English leagues. It is believed that the clubs were on the whole supportive, although there was some disagreement about where the game should take place and further discussions are planned. Also coming out of Glasgow was the news that the Glasgow and District League is inviting applications from clubs wishing to join that competition ahead of its fourth season next year. A vote is expected to take place at the end of the current campaign.

12-05-2021, 07:56 AM	#150
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: MARCH 1874 The league season is now underway all around the country, with some leagues having played just one round of games while the Metropolitan League has played four, and the universities with their midweek games have played six. LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST The Old Westminsters are the only undefeated team in the Metropolitan League but they have played just two games after having their other two fixtures postponed. Three teams sit right behind them with three wins from four, including Clapham who won their first three and Hackney who lost on the opening day but have won all three since. Favourites Greenwich have seen a mixed start with two wins and two losses, while champions The Regent’s Park also have an even record but like the Westminsters, have played just twice so far. Of the new teams, Putney won their opening game against Kensington and have two victories from three so far, while the Commercial Dock Workers lost their first two heavily but rebounded to defeat Kensington for their first win. Champions Isleworth have won both games in the Middlesex County League, albeit only after a sixteen-inning battle with the Old Harrovians last week. They share first place with Tottenham, who stunned favourites Edmonton with a ninth-inning comeback victory on the opening day. Edmonton and last year’s runners-up Ealing sit one game back after two rounds of fixtures. Croydon and Richmond were the winners on the opening day of play in the new Surrey County League, while the game between Reigate and Wimbledon was called off. Croydon now lead the way with two wins from two, while Wimbledon ended the month by winning their first game and are the other undefeated team. The Kent County League has played just one round of games, with champions Bexley Heath joining Maidstone, Rochester and Erith as winners. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST As widely expected, Miles Platting and champions Salford look as though they will be tough to beat in the Manchester and District League as both have won all three games so far. Indeed, Salford have scored in double figures in each of their last two. Bury and Rochdale, expected to have winning records again this year, have two wins to their names, as do unfancied Bolton, who finished last a year ago. The Liverpool and District League has only had one week of play, with champions Liverpool St Patrick’s defeating newcomers Anfield. Linacre and St Helens also won their opening games, as did the other new team Wigan, who earned a 1-0 success at well-backed Great Float. Two weeks into the inaugural season of the Lancashire County League, Accrington and Ribble are living up to their billing as the two favourites as both have won their first two games, although Ribble needed fully seventeen innings to get past Chorley on the opening day. YORKSHIRE Newcomers Batley have made their mark on the Leeds and Bradford League, winning all three of their games to sit in first place by themselves at the end of March. Their run included a comeback 3-2 victory over fellow new team Dewsbury, who have played just twice and lost both games. Champions Bradford won their first two before falling to Woodhouse, and those teams share second place with Halifax and Hunslet. After a poor season last time, Sheffield Philadelphia are the surprise early leaders in the Sheffield and District League, being the only club to win their first two. Their second win was an extra-innings success over champions Doncaster who had won their opening game. Doncaster share second place with Barnsley and Sanderson’s Weir, who have also been beaten by their near neighbours Sheffield. MIDLANDS There has only been one week of play in the Birmingham and District League, where champions Edgbaston opened up with a defeat at the hands of Small Heath. Other winners on day one were West Bromwich, Dudley and championship favourites Birmingham Main Line. In the new Derby and Nottingham League, Midland Loco are the only team to win their first two games. Indeed, they are yet to allow a run after 2-0 successes against both Sherwood and Trent Bridge. Old Basford were backed to have a good year but they are the only team yet to win after struggling for good pitching in their first two games. SCOTLAND Govan are the outright leaders of the Glasgow and District League after wins over White Cart, Burgh of Partick and Tollcross. The last of those left Tollcross, who had themselves won their first two, a game back in second place while everyone else has one win, including champions Burgh of Partick who lost their first two before defeating Lanark-Renfrew to end the month. Dunfermline are the surprise leaders of the East of Scotland League, as they too hold the only undefeated record in their league. Champions The Grange lost their opening game to Leith but have since won the next two and sit second, while favourites Arthur’s Seat have started slowly, struggling for runs in losing two of their three games. UNIVERSITIES Well fancied Magdalen College lead the way at Oxford University, having won five of their six games so far. Merton won their first four, but a postponement and defeat to Worcester College in their last game leave them fractionally behind Magdalen in second place. Having lost their last two, champions Balliol are struggling early on, far removed from a year ago when they won their first twelve games. At Cambridge, champions Clare College also won their first four but subsequent defeats at the hands of Queens’ and St John’s have dropped them back behind St Catharine’s and Trinity, both of whom have won their last four. St Catharine’s lead the way by a fraction having played and won one more game than Trinity. In other news, this season may yet end with another new competition as a suggestion has come from the Burgh of Partick club that the best players of Scotland and England should face one another in a challenge match. Inspired by watching the association football match between the two countries which was played at their ground in early March, several of Partick’s players sought support from other Glasgow clubs for their idea and then put the suggestion to the leading English leagues. It is believed that the clubs were on the whole supportive, although there was some disagreement about where the game should take place and further discussions are planned. Also coming out of Glasgow was the news that the Glasgow and District League is inviting applications from clubs wishing to join that competition ahead of its fourth season next year. A vote is expected to take place at the end of the current campaign.