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as5680 · 12-05-2021, 04:37 PM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: SEPTEMBER 1874

The end of the season is fast approaching, and we are set for close finishes in several of the league this year, with only the Sheffield and District League decided heading into October. September however ended with several crucial games between championship challengers which has left the picture clearer in some competitions and even more confused than ever in others.

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

Clapham and the Old Westminsters end September tied with five games to play in the Metropolitan League, after both completed their September schedules undefeated. Clapham won four times and the Westminsters five, with Clapham’s month-ending victory over Angel possibly putting an end to Angel’s own challenge. The top two meet one another next week, while Angel do still have to face the Westminsters so may not quite be out of the running. With Hackney losing twice and Putney three times in September, those two teams will certainly miss out this year. At the bottom of the standings, a run of four successive wins has given outgoing champions The Regent’s Park hope of avoiding the embarrassment of going from first to last in the space of one year.

Champions Isleworth lead the Middlesex County League by one game with two to play, after coming back from an extra-innings deficit to defeat championship rivals Tottenham in the final game of September. Tottenham had been undefeated in the month prior to that, but they must now hope that Isleworth lose at least one of their remaining games. In Kent, Rochester lead by one game from Bromley after both were undefeated in September. Two defeats to start the month may have cost Gravesend their chance, while Bromley only have one game to play which means that they must win that fixture and hope that Rochester do not win any more than one of their three remaining games. The first championship in the Surrey County League looks to be heading to Norwood, despite their loss at last-placed Wimbledon in their final game of the month. Chasers Kingston and Croydon were also defeated. Norwood will be champions if they win two of their last three, but can secure the crown with victory in their next game if Kingston and Croydon are both beaten again.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

Miles Platting continue to stumble towards the winning line in the Manchester and District League, losing their first three in September before edging out Rochdale 4-3 in extra-innings in their last game. After winning their first twelve, they have won just eleven and lost nine of the next twenty, but still have a seemingly comfortable lead over Irwell and Salford. Both those teams suffered shock defeats to lowly opponents which prevented them from closing the gap further, and two wins from the last four will be enough for Miles Platting.

Linacre seem to be the only team who can prevent Liverpool St Patrick’s from winning a fourth successive title in the Liverpool and District League, as their win in the meeting of the two last week brought them effectively level in first place. Liverpool’s winning percentage is slightly better having played two games fewer, but intriguingly the two have still to meet once more. That will be Linacre’s final game, with Liverpool having two more to play after. Newcomers Wigan saw their impressive challenge falter with defeats to both Liverpool and Anfield this month, and although they are not quite officially eliminated from the race, they seem set to fall just short. In the Lancashire County League, nobody has any consistent form to speak of as leaders Accrington lost three of four in September but neither Chorley nor Over Darwen were able to take full advantage. Accrington lead by one from Darwen and two from Chorley with four to play, with Chorley’s hopes boosted by still having to face both of the teams ahead of them.

YORKSHIRE

The Leeds and Bradford League seems to be coming down to a straight fight between champions Bradford and leaders Hunslet, with Hunslet continuing to falter this month in losing games against Huddersfield and Dewsbury. Bradford, who have played and won one game fewer, could have edged fractionally ahead but their own defeat at Halifax keeps them just behind. Newcomers Batley saw their hopes all but disappear in a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Hunslet in their last game of the month. The first team to claim a title this year were Sanderson’s Weir, who won back the Sheffield and District crown that they narrowly lost a year ago when they opened September with victory over Hallamshire, coupled with defeat for Barnsley against Doncaster. Since securing the title, Weir have lost three games out of four and seen outgoing champions Doncaster complete an undefeated month to move clear in second place, just four games behind. Weir will care little though, as they are guaranteed to have at least a two-game cushion by the end of the season.

MIDLANDS

West Bromwich lead the Birmingham and District League by the smallest fraction heading into October, after Small Heath’s nine-game winning run came to an end in a 4-1 defeat at Birmingham Main Line in their final game of the month. It could have been even better for the leaders, but they were only able to share two with the last-placed Old Wulfrunians to keep the race very much alive. West Bromwich have only one game left to play, and should they win it then Small Heath would need to win both of theirs to force a tiebreaker. A West Bromwich defeat would mean that two wins would give Small Heath the title outright. Old Basford are closing in on becoming the first champions of the Derby and Nottingham League, despite a 3-1 defeat at Sherwood earlier in September which reduced their lead in the standings to a single game. Both they and Sherwood won their final games of the month, meaning that Old Basford lead by one with two to play. Trent Bridge’s defeat to Ilkeston rules them out of the race for this year.

SCOTLAND

A crucial 2-1 win over Govan has kept Burgh of Partick on course to retain the Glasgow and District League championship, as they lead by two heading into October. Govan’s failure to win the second of a double game against Dundashill on the final weekend in September means that Partick will take the crown if they win their three remaining games, but any defeat could open a window for Govan who have five to play. Arthur’s Seat came within an single out of taking the East of Scotland League title a year ago but it appears that this time they will be successful, as they moved into first place by defeating Dunfermline 3-0 to open September and then saw their rivals drop two of their next three games to lose further ground. With two games to play, Arthur’s Seat will be champions if they win either, or if Dunfermline lose their one remaining game.

In one other piece of news from Scotland, the vote to determine the two teams joining the Glasgow and District League for next year has been taken earlier than expected, at the request of the applicant clubs who wanted more time to prepare should they be successful. Six applications were received, some from the city itself and some from towns further afield, and in the end it was those further away which were successful. Winning the vote with the support of four clubs were Tail o’ the Bank, a team from the town of Greenock which lies some 20 miles north-west of central Glasgow. With three votes, edging out the more centrally located Rutherglen, were a team from Airdrie, located around 12 miles east of the city centre. They will join the league for the 1875 campaign, with the format of the season yet to be announced. It has been speculated that the clubs may choose to follow the format used by the Metropolitan League when that competition had eight members, with each club playing the others four times and adding two further fixtures against a ‘paired’ rival.

12-05-2021, 04:37 PM	#157
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: SEPTEMBER 1874 The end of the season is fast approaching, and we are set for close finishes in several of the league this year, with only the Sheffield and District League decided heading into October. September however ended with several crucial games between championship challengers which has left the picture clearer in some competitions and even more confused than ever in others. LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST Clapham and the Old Westminsters end September tied with five games to play in the Metropolitan League, after both completed their September schedules undefeated. Clapham won four times and the Westminsters five, with Clapham’s month-ending victory over Angel possibly putting an end to Angel’s own challenge. The top two meet one another next week, while Angel do still have to face the Westminsters so may not quite be out of the running. With Hackney losing twice and Putney three times in September, those two teams will certainly miss out this year. At the bottom of the standings, a run of four successive wins has given outgoing champions The Regent’s Park hope of avoiding the embarrassment of going from first to last in the space of one year. Champions Isleworth lead the Middlesex County League by one game with two to play, after coming back from an extra-innings deficit to defeat championship rivals Tottenham in the final game of September. Tottenham had been undefeated in the month prior to that, but they must now hope that Isleworth lose at least one of their remaining games. In Kent, Rochester lead by one game from Bromley after both were undefeated in September. Two defeats to start the month may have cost Gravesend their chance, while Bromley only have one game to play which means that they must win that fixture and hope that Rochester do not win any more than one of their three remaining games. The first championship in the Surrey County League looks to be heading to Norwood, despite their loss at last-placed Wimbledon in their final game of the month. Chasers Kingston and Croydon were also defeated. Norwood will be champions if they win two of their last three, but can secure the crown with victory in their next game if Kingston and Croydon are both beaten again. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST Miles Platting continue to stumble towards the winning line in the Manchester and District League, losing their first three in September before edging out Rochdale 4-3 in extra-innings in their last game. After winning their first twelve, they have won just eleven and lost nine of the next twenty, but still have a seemingly comfortable lead over Irwell and Salford. Both those teams suffered shock defeats to lowly opponents which prevented them from closing the gap further, and two wins from the last four will be enough for Miles Platting. Linacre seem to be the only team who can prevent Liverpool St Patrick’s from winning a fourth successive title in the Liverpool and District League, as their win in the meeting of the two last week brought them effectively level in first place. Liverpool’s winning percentage is slightly better having played two games fewer, but intriguingly the two have still to meet once more. That will be Linacre’s final game, with Liverpool having two more to play after. Newcomers Wigan saw their impressive challenge falter with defeats to both Liverpool and Anfield this month, and although they are not quite officially eliminated from the race, they seem set to fall just short. In the Lancashire County League, nobody has any consistent form to speak of as leaders Accrington lost three of four in September but neither Chorley nor Over Darwen were able to take full advantage. Accrington lead by one from Darwen and two from Chorley with four to play, with Chorley’s hopes boosted by still having to face both of the teams ahead of them. YORKSHIRE The Leeds and Bradford League seems to be coming down to a straight fight between champions Bradford and leaders Hunslet, with Hunslet continuing to falter this month in losing games against Huddersfield and Dewsbury. Bradford, who have played and won one game fewer, could have edged fractionally ahead but their own defeat at Halifax keeps them just behind. Newcomers Batley saw their hopes all but disappear in a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Hunslet in their last game of the month. The first team to claim a title this year were Sanderson’s Weir, who won back the Sheffield and District crown that they narrowly lost a year ago when they opened September with victory over Hallamshire, coupled with defeat for Barnsley against Doncaster. Since securing the title, Weir have lost three games out of four and seen outgoing champions Doncaster complete an undefeated month to move clear in second place, just four games behind. Weir will care little though, as they are guaranteed to have at least a two-game cushion by the end of the season. MIDLANDS West Bromwich lead the Birmingham and District League by the smallest fraction heading into October, after Small Heath’s nine-game winning run came to an end in a 4-1 defeat at Birmingham Main Line in their final game of the month. It could have been even better for the leaders, but they were only able to share two with the last-placed Old Wulfrunians to keep the race very much alive. West Bromwich have only one game left to play, and should they win it then Small Heath would need to win both of theirs to force a tiebreaker. A West Bromwich defeat would mean that two wins would give Small Heath the title outright. Old Basford are closing in on becoming the first champions of the Derby and Nottingham League, despite a 3-1 defeat at Sherwood earlier in September which reduced their lead in the standings to a single game. Both they and Sherwood won their final games of the month, meaning that Old Basford lead by one with two to play. Trent Bridge’s defeat to Ilkeston rules them out of the race for this year. SCOTLAND A crucial 2-1 win over Govan has kept Burgh of Partick on course to retain the Glasgow and District League championship, as they lead by two heading into October. Govan’s failure to win the second of a double game against Dundashill on the final weekend in September means that Partick will take the crown if they win their three remaining games, but any defeat could open a window for Govan who have five to play. Arthur’s Seat came within an single out of taking the East of Scotland League title a year ago but it appears that this time they will be successful, as they moved into first place by defeating Dunfermline 3-0 to open September and then saw their rivals drop two of their next three games to lose further ground. With two games to play, Arthur’s Seat will be champions if they win either, or if Dunfermline lose their one remaining game. In one other piece of news from Scotland, the vote to determine the two teams joining the Glasgow and District League for next year has been taken earlier than expected, at the request of the applicant clubs who wanted more time to prepare should they be successful. Six applications were received, some from the city itself and some from towns further afield, and in the end it was those further away which were successful. Winning the vote with the support of four clubs were Tail o’ the Bank, a team from the town of Greenock which lies some 20 miles north-west of central Glasgow. With three votes, edging out the more centrally located Rutherglen, were a team from Airdrie, located around 12 miles east of the city centre. They will join the league for the 1875 campaign, with the format of the season yet to be announced. It has been speculated that the clubs may choose to follow the format used by the Metropolitan League when that competition had eight members, with each club playing the others four times and adding two further fixtures against a ‘paired’ rival.