OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - British and Irish Baseball

as5680 · 12-05-2021, 11:33 AM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: APRIL 1874

The latest news on the proposed game between England and Scotland is that both countries have agreed that it should go ahead, but neither was willing to give up home advantage. As a compromise, a suggestion came from the Metropolitan League clubs that a three-game series, following the format of the Varsity Series, should be played. That was accepted by the Scottish clubs, but led to the question of who should play at home first. That was finally decided by the toss of a coin, which Scotland were allowed to call, having been the side to suggest the games. Scotland’s call was correct, meaning that they will host the first game, scheduled for the first Saturday in November. England will host the second a week later, with the venue for the third being decided by another coin toss should it be necessary. With Scotland having called the first coin toss, England would be allowed to call the second if it is required. As in the Varsity Series, in future years the venues for the first two games will alternate and the coin toss to host the third would be called by the reigning champions.

The scheduling of these games makes it imperative that league seasons do not run past the end of October, and several leagues have already indicated that they will schedule midweek games if necessary, and will permit clubs to pay expenses to players to compensate players for lost earnings if they have to take time away from their occupations. While paying players to play is still not permitted, this must be seen as another step on the route to the seeming inevitability of professionalism in the near future. We await the annual meetings in the autumn to see whether any clubs make serious proposals that their league permit professionalism, with the Manchester and District League seen as possibly the most likely to do so.

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

The Metropolitan League is looking very tight this year, with Hackney the surprise leaders at the end of April having put together a six-game winning run following their opening day defeat. That run came a stunning end in their final game of the month as they crashed 11-3 at Angel, but they remain in first place because the other surprise team, newcomers Putney, were also defeated. They trail by a fraction, with four more teams within a single game. Those include favourites Greenwich, who have won their last three after a poor start. Champions The Regent’s Park don’t look to have a chance this year, as they lost every game in April and sit above only winless Peckham in the standings.

Having missed the title in a tiebreaker last year, Ealing are leading the way in the Middlesex County League after winning every game this month. They are one ahead of Tottenham, whose undefeated start was ended by Ealing early in April. Champions Isleworth are in third place, but well-fancied Edmonton have made a poor start for the second year in succession and sit last. Seven of the eight teams in the Kent County League are within one game of each other, with champions Bexley Heath losing their last two to fall one game off the pace. Champions Gravesend are one of four teams tied for first. Near neighbours Croydon and Norwood share first place in the new Surrey County League, after Norwood ended April by winning their meeting 4-1. Nobody else has a winning record, although several postponed games make it difficult to see the full picture.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

Manchester and District League champions Salford have fallen one game behind Miles Platting after a surprise loss at Stockport, while Miles Platting remain undefeated having won all their game in April. Nobody else is closer than three games off the pace, and it already seems set to be a two-horse race for the title. One of the surprises of the year so far is the start made by newcomers Wigan in the Liverpool and District League, as they sit in first place having won all five of their games to date. Champions Liverpool, who are yet to face Wigan, are the only other team with a winning record but one postponement and a surprise loss at Sankey leave them a little off the pace. Ribble and Accrington continue to set the pace in the Lancashire County League’s first season, with Ribble a game ahead having won the meeting of the two 3-0 earlier in April. Ribble did end the month with their first defeat, at the hands of Chorley, but stay ahead as Accrington were beaten by Over Darwen.

YORKSHIRE

Along with Wigan, the other surprise of the year is Batley View, who share first place in the Leeds and Bradford League with champions Bradford. Having started the month by losing to Woodhouse, Batley won their remaining three games but Bradford won all four in April, to keep them on pace with the champions. Those two have a two game advantage over the chasing pack already. It is very tight in the Sheffield and District League, as five of the six teams have three wins to their name. To the surprise of many, Holmes Tail lead the way along with Barnsley as they have played and lost one game fewer than Sanderson’s Weir, Sheffield and champions Doncaster. The two leaders have both seen games postponed when they were due to face Hallamshire, who sit alone in last having played only four times.

MIDLANDS

After starting April with a heavy loss to champions Edgbaston, Birmingham Main Line won their remaining three games to move into a tie for first place in the Birmingham and District League. They share that position with Small Heath, whose only loss so far was a heavy 7-1 reverse against Main Line. Former leaders Dudley lost their last two in April to fall one back, alongside Edgbaston and West Bromwich. In the Derby and Nottingham League, it is Midland Loco who lead the way with five wins from six. They entered the final game of the month tied with Sherwood Rise at the top of the standings but won the meeting of those two 3-2 to edge clear. Sherwood’s neighbours Trent Bridge took advantage to join them in a tie for second place.

SCOTLAND

Glasgow and District League champions Burgh of Partick completed an undefeated month in April and now sit alone in first place, having won their last five overall. Early season leaders Govan were their most recent victims, losing by a score of 3-2. They lost three of their four games this month and sit one game back, alongside both Tollcross and Lanark-Renfrew in what seems set to be another close race. The two Fife teams are leading the way in the East of Scotland League, but Dunfermline have been overtaken by Kirkcaldy. Kirkcaldy won all four of their games in April, and like Partick ended the month by defeating their rivals 3-2 to move clear in first place. Champions The Grange are sitting third having been held back by postponements, but Arthur’s Seat are not living up to their billing as favourites as they sit last.

UNIVERSITIES

The university leagues are almost at the half-way stage and in Oxford, it is a tight three-way fight between Brasenose, Merton and Magdalen. With their two rivals faltering, Brasenose won seven of ten this month to edge fractionally ahead. Christ Church are not out of the running yet, and neither are champions Balliol who also recorded seven wins in an improved month. At Cambridge, Trinity had been edging clear but stumbled to defeat in their first three games and allowed Gonville & Caius to join them in first place. Caius have won their last five, as have a fast-improving King’s team who are only one game off the pace. Between King’s and the two leaders are champions Clare, whose hopes suffered a blow when they ended April by losing heavily 9-0 at the hands of King’s.

12-05-2021, 11:33 AM	#151
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: APRIL 1874 The latest news on the proposed game between England and Scotland is that both countries have agreed that it should go ahead, but neither was willing to give up home advantage. As a compromise, a suggestion came from the Metropolitan League clubs that a three-game series, following the format of the Varsity Series, should be played. That was accepted by the Scottish clubs, but led to the question of who should play at home first. That was finally decided by the toss of a coin, which Scotland were allowed to call, having been the side to suggest the games. Scotland’s call was correct, meaning that they will host the first game, scheduled for the first Saturday in November. England will host the second a week later, with the venue for the third being decided by another coin toss should it be necessary. With Scotland having called the first coin toss, England would be allowed to call the second if it is required. As in the Varsity Series, in future years the venues for the first two games will alternate and the coin toss to host the third would be called by the reigning champions. The scheduling of these games makes it imperative that league seasons do not run past the end of October, and several leagues have already indicated that they will schedule midweek games if necessary, and will permit clubs to pay expenses to players to compensate players for lost earnings if they have to take time away from their occupations. While paying players to play is still not permitted, this must be seen as another step on the route to the seeming inevitability of professionalism in the near future. We await the annual meetings in the autumn to see whether any clubs make serious proposals that their league permit professionalism, with the Manchester and District League seen as possibly the most likely to do so. LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST The Metropolitan League is looking very tight this year, with Hackney the surprise leaders at the end of April having put together a six-game winning run following their opening day defeat. That run came a stunning end in their final game of the month as they crashed 11-3 at Angel, but they remain in first place because the other surprise team, newcomers Putney, were also defeated. They trail by a fraction, with four more teams within a single game. Those include favourites Greenwich, who have won their last three after a poor start. Champions The Regent’s Park don’t look to have a chance this year, as they lost every game in April and sit above only winless Peckham in the standings. Having missed the title in a tiebreaker last year, Ealing are leading the way in the Middlesex County League after winning every game this month. They are one ahead of Tottenham, whose undefeated start was ended by Ealing early in April. Champions Isleworth are in third place, but well-fancied Edmonton have made a poor start for the second year in succession and sit last. Seven of the eight teams in the Kent County League are within one game of each other, with champions Bexley Heath losing their last two to fall one game off the pace. Champions Gravesend are one of four teams tied for first. Near neighbours Croydon and Norwood share first place in the new Surrey County League, after Norwood ended April by winning their meeting 4-1. Nobody else has a winning record, although several postponed games make it difficult to see the full picture. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST Manchester and District League champions Salford have fallen one game behind Miles Platting after a surprise loss at Stockport, while Miles Platting remain undefeated having won all their game in April. Nobody else is closer than three games off the pace, and it already seems set to be a two-horse race for the title. One of the surprises of the year so far is the start made by newcomers Wigan in the Liverpool and District League, as they sit in first place having won all five of their games to date. Champions Liverpool, who are yet to face Wigan, are the only other team with a winning record but one postponement and a surprise loss at Sankey leave them a little off the pace. Ribble and Accrington continue to set the pace in the Lancashire County League’s first season, with Ribble a game ahead having won the meeting of the two 3-0 earlier in April. Ribble did end the month with their first defeat, at the hands of Chorley, but stay ahead as Accrington were beaten by Over Darwen. YORKSHIRE Along with Wigan, the other surprise of the year is Batley View, who share first place in the Leeds and Bradford League with champions Bradford. Having started the month by losing to Woodhouse, Batley won their remaining three games but Bradford won all four in April, to keep them on pace with the champions. Those two have a two game advantage over the chasing pack already. It is very tight in the Sheffield and District League, as five of the six teams have three wins to their name. To the surprise of many, Holmes Tail lead the way along with Barnsley as they have played and lost one game fewer than Sanderson’s Weir, Sheffield and champions Doncaster. The two leaders have both seen games postponed when they were due to face Hallamshire, who sit alone in last having played only four times. MIDLANDS After starting April with a heavy loss to champions Edgbaston, Birmingham Main Line won their remaining three games to move into a tie for first place in the Birmingham and District League. They share that position with Small Heath, whose only loss so far was a heavy 7-1 reverse against Main Line. Former leaders Dudley lost their last two in April to fall one back, alongside Edgbaston and West Bromwich. In the Derby and Nottingham League, it is Midland Loco who lead the way with five wins from six. They entered the final game of the month tied with Sherwood Rise at the top of the standings but won the meeting of those two 3-2 to edge clear. Sherwood’s neighbours Trent Bridge took advantage to join them in a tie for second place. SCOTLAND Glasgow and District League champions Burgh of Partick completed an undefeated month in April and now sit alone in first place, having won their last five overall. Early season leaders Govan were their most recent victims, losing by a score of 3-2. They lost three of their four games this month and sit one game back, alongside both Tollcross and Lanark-Renfrew in what seems set to be another close race. The two Fife teams are leading the way in the East of Scotland League, but Dunfermline have been overtaken by Kirkcaldy. Kirkcaldy won all four of their games in April, and like Partick ended the month by defeating their rivals 3-2 to move clear in first place. Champions The Grange are sitting third having been held back by postponements, but Arthur’s Seat are not living up to their billing as favourites as they sit last. UNIVERSITIES The university leagues are almost at the half-way stage and in Oxford, it is a tight three-way fight between Brasenose, Merton and Magdalen. With their two rivals faltering, Brasenose won seven of ten this month to edge fractionally ahead. Christ Church are not out of the running yet, and neither are champions Balliol who also recorded seven wins in an improved month. At Cambridge, Trinity had been edging clear but stumbled to defeat in their first three games and allowed Gonville & Caius to join them in first place. Caius have won their last five, as have a fast-improving King’s team who are only one game off the pace. Between King’s and the two leaders are champions Clare, whose hopes suffered a blow when they ended April by losing heavily 9-0 at the hands of King’s. Last edited by as5680; 12-05-2021 at 11:37 AM.