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as5680 · 05-08-2022, 04:43 PM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: SEPTEMBER 1877

LONDON AND THE SOUTH
Westminster’s journey to another Metropolitan League title has become a little less smooth after a tough month which saw them lose five games out of nine and also lose first choice pitcher Daniel Armstrong to injury, most likely for the rest of the season. Their lead in the standings is now down to two games, although it could have been reduced even further had Angel’s nine game winning run not ended in a 5-0 defeat at the Royal Artillery Barracks in their last game. Also two games back are Clapham, who have played fully six games fewer than Westminster. Fascinatingly, Westminster’s only remaining games are against Clapham and Angel, after which they will have to sit and wait to see how many of their rescheduled games their rivals can win. Should Westminster lose both of their games, there would still be the smallest chance for Hackney or the Royal Artillery Barracks to tie them by winning their remaining fixtures, but the possibility is very remote. The race is long over in Middlesex, as despite losing their first game of September 3-2 at Ealing, Edmonton completed a successful title defence by winning their next two, the 2-0 victory over Brentford mathematically securing the crown. They have since gone on to win two more games, and with two to play now have a six game advantage over both Ealing and Brentford. Undefeated in September and having played two games fewer, Ealing are favourites to finish second but must still play both Brentford and Edmonton in October.

Croydon are the new champions of the Surrey County League having held off the challenge of two-time winners Kingston. Having come into September leading by two games, they defeated Kingston in extra innings to extend the gap to three, only to lose at Richmond a week later. Kingston could not take advantage, losing to Wimbledon on the same day, and their chance had gone as Croydon won their next two games to clinch the crown with three games to spare. In all, Kingston lost three of their four games in the month but should still have enough of a lead to hold on to second place. Having come into September on a ten game winning run in the Essex County League, Forest Gate extended that run to eleven before their charge was halted by two postponements and a 3-2 loss at the Three Blackbirds of Leyton. Second placed Romford were only able to win two of their four games however, while the Blackbirds lost their other three in the month and victory at West Ham took Forest Gate to within one game of regaining the title they lost a year ago. The championship will be theirs if they defeat Pig Alley in their next game, while Romford and the Three Blackbirds will battle for second position, with outgoing champions Romford fractionally ahead heading into October. In the Bristol and District League, Bath Spa’s hopes were hit when they ended September with a 6-5 defeat at the hands of fellow contenders Avon Gorge. Avon have a slender lead heading into October, having won three and lost two in the last month, while Bristol Easton caught up two rescheduled games and recorded five wins from seven ahead of their meeting with Avon in their next game. Bath are one game further back in third, and will surely have to win their last three to have a chance of the title.

Kent County League champions Dartford ended September with defeat against Sheerness and a share of two games against second-placed Bromley, but four successive wins earlier in the month put them in a strong position to defend their title. Bromley had a strong month themselves, sharing two with Bexley Heath before winning their next three, but really needed to take both against Dartford to strengthen their position. Dartford will be champions again if their win their remaining four games, while Bromley can afford no more mistakes if there are to be in position to take advantage of any stumble. Three defeats in the month have surely ruled third placed Erith out of the running. In the East Kent League, The Buffs fell a game behind for the first time all year when they lost their first game of September against Dover, only to draw level again when Folkestone and Sandgate slipped up the following week. When the two met in their next game, The Buffs took a 3-0 victory to move a game clear, but when their next game was postponed Folkestone took the chance to edge a little closer. Both teams won their final game of September, meaning that The Buffs will be champions if they win their last four but Folkestone are in position to take advantage of any defeat.

THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
Despite a 6-5 loss to fellow contenders Rochdale, Miles Platting are in fine position to regain the Manchester and District League title having won their other four games in September. They lead by three games from both Rochdale and Salford with four to play, as Rochdale slipped up when those two met while Salford stumbled against Bury in their final game of the month. That win comes too late to drag Bury back into the race, as they had already lost three of their previous four games including a narrow 2-1 defeat at Miles Platting. In the Liverpool and District League, Liverpool St Patrick’s will make it six titles in seven years if they defeat neighbours Toxteth in their final game, having won all five in September and seven in succession overall. Wigan’s defeat to Liverpool left them needing to take two against Great Float to stay on level terms but they could only share the games, and must now beat lowly St Helens and hope that Liverpool falter to force a tiebreaker. Champions Linacre are two back after a poor month which brought four defeats in six games, but do still have three to play, and if Liverpool do lose their final game they too can force a tie by winning their last three. Blackburn have completed a successful defence of the Lancashire County League, holding off the brave challenge of newcomers Lancaster in part due to a tense 1-0 victory when the two met in mid-September. Victory over Burnley in their next game would have secured the title, but a 2-1 defeat gave Lancaster new hope. That hope was extinguished a week later however, as a 2-1 victory at Ribble gave Blackburn an insurmountable lead in the standings. Lancaster however are guaranteed second place, a fine achievement in their first season.

Leeds and Bradford League leaders Woodhouse Lane lost three of their four games in September, including one to chasers Huddersfield, but remain in position to take the title as they lead by three games. Huddersfield’s hopes faded when they lost their last two in the month against Dewsbury and Halifax, while Bradford did likewise against Bowling and Leeds. The two chasers have two more games to play than Woodhouse, but need the leaders to lose at least two of their final four to have a chance. In the Sheffield and District League, Worksop’s hopes have crumbled after they lost four games out of six in September, including a 2-1 loss against fellow contenders Chesterfield. It is now Chesterfield who are on the brink of taking the title in their second season in the league, having won their last four games after opening the month with defeat against champions Sheffield. If they beat Doncaster in their final game they will be champions, but defeat would allow Worksop to tie with victory over Sanderson’s Weir, or Sheffield to tie by winning their final two game which are both against Hallamshire. One win from their final three games will give Scarborough the Yorkshire County League title, despite three defeats from five in September including a 1-0 loss in ten innings against second placed Beverley. Beverley wasted that victory as they too lost three times during the month, and they are now coming under pressure from York in the battle for second place after York defeated both of the two leaders during the month. A tense finish is in store in the Tyne and Wear League after South Shields edged past Jesmond on the final Saturday of September, while Newcastle Westgate wasted a victory over Shields a week earlier by crashing 6-2 at Sunderland. Newcastle lead by a fraction from Jesmond ahead of their meeting next week, with Shields one game off the pace in third. There is a theoretical chance for fourth-placed Sunderland, who won every game in September, to get into a tiebreaker but they would have to win all their games and hope for the correct combination of results from elsewhere.

THE MIDLANDS
A mixed month for champions Dudley keeps the Birmingham and District race interesting, as they lost their first two before recovering to beat fellow contenders Walsall in extra innings. Walsall’s winning run reached thirteen games after a win at Birmingham Main Line to open September, but they then lost their next three including that damaging defeat against Dudley before ending the month with a win over the Old Wulfrunians, who now look to be out of the race. Walsall have three to play while Dudley have six, and they know that five wins will be enough to secure a third successive title. Cannock Ridings are the first champions of the Staffordshire County League, having won two of their first three in September to move to the brink of success. Facing two games against Stafford, victory in both would have been enough but Cannock were only able to split the games. However, second placed Burton were beaten by Lichfield on the same day and could no longer catch up. With the title secure, Cannock lost to Burton to end the month, leaving Burton and Lichfield tied for second place with two games to play, the last of which is against one another. The inaugural title in the Warwickshire County League has gone to Warwick St Nicholas, who have dominated the league all year and won their first four games of September without allowing a run to make their lead insurmountable. The 9-2 defeat at Nuneaton which ended the month mattered little to them, while it may also be too late to help Nuneaton catch Leamington for second place.

The fascinating race in the Derby and Nottingham League looks to have gone the way of Midland Loco, who will be champions if they win their final game against Sherwood. Victories over neighbours and outgoing champions Derby and newcomers Rock Valley have moved them to the brink of the crown, but both Sherwood and Trent Bridge can still force a tie. Sherwood lost three games out of five in September but if they can defeat Midland, victory in a rescheduled game at Ilkeston would leave them tied at the top. Trent Bridge can also tie if they win their last two and Midland lose to Sherwood, but Rock Valley’s hopes of a championship at the first attempt are over after four defeats from six games in the past month. In the Leicester and Northampton League, Wellingborough’s lead remains at one game after they won two and lost two in September, while postponements meant that second placed Loughborough played only twice, winning one and losing one. Wins in their first three games of the month looked to be dragging St Margaret’s back into the race, but a 2-1 loss at home to Wellingborough at the end of the month leaves them two games back with only three remaining. Loughborough have five to play while Wellingborough have only three, but intriguingly two of those are against Loughborough and those games will surely decide the destiny of this year’s championship.

SCOTLAND
Govan had to wait a week longer than expected to secure the Glasgow and District League crown, having let slip a ninth inning lead in losing to Tollcross in their first game of the month when victory would have decided the race. There was no mistake in their next game, a 1-0 victory over Lanark-Renfrew, and despite another loss later in the month against Airdrie they now have an enormous lead over deposed champions Tail o’ the Bank in the standings. Tail are now favourites to finish second, as Partick’s season is fading away after they lost all five games in September. In the East of Scotland League, Vallum Antonini could take the title at the first attempt having surged through September winning all five games, and taking their winning run to seven in total. Crucial to the race was a 4-3 win in an eighteen inning battle with Haymarket, who then lost again a week later when they met Leith. That gave Vallum a one game lead in the standings and they will be champions if they win their last two, but Haymarket are right behind them in case of a slip. The collapse of long-time leaders Arthur’s Seat has been dramatic, as they lost their first three games in September to take their losing run to seven overall. That run finally ended with victory over The Grange, but they ended the month losing 6-1 to Haymarket and are all-but mathematically out of the race after eight defeats in nine games. Having finished second by a single game in each of the league’s first four seasons, that run is coming to an end but not in the way they would have hoped or the way which looked certain when they recorded eighteen wins from their first twenty-two games this season. The race is over in the North Caledonian League, where Dundee Law looked to be making it a close fight with neighbours Firth of Tay when they won their first four games of September, including a 5-1 win over Firth when the two met. That left them just a single game behind with three to play, but after both won the following week the race came to its conclusion on the final Saturday of the month when the two contenders faced away games in Aberdeen. Firth of Tay recorded a victory over Aberdeen Ferryhill, and as they were setting out for the journey back south news came through to them that Dundee had lost at Old Aberdeen, meaning that the gap grew to two games with only one left to play. Dundee are already assured of second place, but that win for Old Aberdeen improves their chances of taking third.

05-08-2022, 04:43 PM	#215
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: SEPTEMBER 1877 LONDON AND THE SOUTH Westminster’s journey to another Metropolitan League title has become a little less smooth after a tough month which saw them lose five games out of nine and also lose first choice pitcher Daniel Armstrong to injury, most likely for the rest of the season. Their lead in the standings is now down to two games, although it could have been reduced even further had Angel’s nine game winning run not ended in a 5-0 defeat at the Royal Artillery Barracks in their last game. Also two games back are Clapham, who have played fully six games fewer than Westminster. Fascinatingly, Westminster’s only remaining games are against Clapham and Angel, after which they will have to sit and wait to see how many of their rescheduled games their rivals can win. Should Westminster lose both of their games, there would still be the smallest chance for Hackney or the Royal Artillery Barracks to tie them by winning their remaining fixtures, but the possibility is very remote. The race is long over in Middlesex, as despite losing their first game of September 3-2 at Ealing, Edmonton completed a successful title defence by winning their next two, the 2-0 victory over Brentford mathematically securing the crown. They have since gone on to win two more games, and with two to play now have a six game advantage over both Ealing and Brentford. Undefeated in September and having played two games fewer, Ealing are favourites to finish second but must still play both Brentford and Edmonton in October. Croydon are the new champions of the Surrey County League having held off the challenge of two-time winners Kingston. Having come into September leading by two games, they defeated Kingston in extra innings to extend the gap to three, only to lose at Richmond a week later. Kingston could not take advantage, losing to Wimbledon on the same day, and their chance had gone as Croydon won their next two games to clinch the crown with three games to spare. In all, Kingston lost three of their four games in the month but should still have enough of a lead to hold on to second place. Having come into September on a ten game winning run in the Essex County League, Forest Gate extended that run to eleven before their charge was halted by two postponements and a 3-2 loss at the Three Blackbirds of Leyton. Second placed Romford were only able to win two of their four games however, while the Blackbirds lost their other three in the month and victory at West Ham took Forest Gate to within one game of regaining the title they lost a year ago. The championship will be theirs if they defeat Pig Alley in their next game, while Romford and the Three Blackbirds will battle for second position, with outgoing champions Romford fractionally ahead heading into October. In the Bristol and District League, Bath Spa’s hopes were hit when they ended September with a 6-5 defeat at the hands of fellow contenders Avon Gorge. Avon have a slender lead heading into October, having won three and lost two in the last month, while Bristol Easton caught up two rescheduled games and recorded five wins from seven ahead of their meeting with Avon in their next game. Bath are one game further back in third, and will surely have to win their last three to have a chance of the title. Kent County League champions Dartford ended September with defeat against Sheerness and a share of two games against second-placed Bromley, but four successive wins earlier in the month put them in a strong position to defend their title. Bromley had a strong month themselves, sharing two with Bexley Heath before winning their next three, but really needed to take both against Dartford to strengthen their position. Dartford will be champions again if their win their remaining four games, while Bromley can afford no more mistakes if there are to be in position to take advantage of any stumble. Three defeats in the month have surely ruled third placed Erith out of the running. In the East Kent League, The Buffs fell a game behind for the first time all year when they lost their first game of September against Dover, only to draw level again when Folkestone and Sandgate slipped up the following week. When the two met in their next game, The Buffs took a 3-0 victory to move a game clear, but when their next game was postponed Folkestone took the chance to edge a little closer. Both teams won their final game of September, meaning that The Buffs will be champions if they win their last four but Folkestone are in position to take advantage of any defeat. THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Despite a 6-5 loss to fellow contenders Rochdale, Miles Platting are in fine position to regain the Manchester and District League title having won their other four games in September. They lead by three games from both Rochdale and Salford with four to play, as Rochdale slipped up when those two met while Salford stumbled against Bury in their final game of the month. That win comes too late to drag Bury back into the race, as they had already lost three of their previous four games including a narrow 2-1 defeat at Miles Platting. In the Liverpool and District League, Liverpool St Patrick’s will make it six titles in seven years if they defeat neighbours Toxteth in their final game, having won all five in September and seven in succession overall. Wigan’s defeat to Liverpool left them needing to take two against Great Float to stay on level terms but they could only share the games, and must now beat lowly St Helens and hope that Liverpool falter to force a tiebreaker. Champions Linacre are two back after a poor month which brought four defeats in six games, but do still have three to play, and if Liverpool do lose their final game they too can force a tie by winning their last three. Blackburn have completed a successful defence of the Lancashire County League, holding off the brave challenge of newcomers Lancaster in part due to a tense 1-0 victory when the two met in mid-September. Victory over Burnley in their next game would have secured the title, but a 2-1 defeat gave Lancaster new hope. That hope was extinguished a week later however, as a 2-1 victory at Ribble gave Blackburn an insurmountable lead in the standings. Lancaster however are guaranteed second place, a fine achievement in their first season. Leeds and Bradford League leaders Woodhouse Lane lost three of their four games in September, including one to chasers Huddersfield, but remain in position to take the title as they lead by three games. Huddersfield’s hopes faded when they lost their last two in the month against Dewsbury and Halifax, while Bradford did likewise against Bowling and Leeds. The two chasers have two more games to play than Woodhouse, but need the leaders to lose at least two of their final four to have a chance. In the Sheffield and District League, Worksop’s hopes have crumbled after they lost four games out of six in September, including a 2-1 loss against fellow contenders Chesterfield. It is now Chesterfield who are on the brink of taking the title in their second season in the league, having won their last four games after opening the month with defeat against champions Sheffield. If they beat Doncaster in their final game they will be champions, but defeat would allow Worksop to tie with victory over Sanderson’s Weir, or Sheffield to tie by winning their final two game which are both against Hallamshire. One win from their final three games will give Scarborough the Yorkshire County League title, despite three defeats from five in September including a 1-0 loss in ten innings against second placed Beverley. Beverley wasted that victory as they too lost three times during the month, and they are now coming under pressure from York in the battle for second place after York defeated both of the two leaders during the month. A tense finish is in store in the Tyne and Wear League after South Shields edged past Jesmond on the final Saturday of September, while Newcastle Westgate wasted a victory over Shields a week earlier by crashing 6-2 at Sunderland. Newcastle lead by a fraction from Jesmond ahead of their meeting next week, with Shields one game off the pace in third. There is a theoretical chance for fourth-placed Sunderland, who won every game in September, to get into a tiebreaker but they would have to win all their games and hope for the correct combination of results from elsewhere. THE MIDLANDS A mixed month for champions Dudley keeps the Birmingham and District race interesting, as they lost their first two before recovering to beat fellow contenders Walsall in extra innings. Walsall’s winning run reached thirteen games after a win at Birmingham Main Line to open September, but they then lost their next three including that damaging defeat against Dudley before ending the month with a win over the Old Wulfrunians, who now look to be out of the race. Walsall have three to play while Dudley have six, and they know that five wins will be enough to secure a third successive title. Cannock Ridings are the first champions of the Staffordshire County League, having won two of their first three in September to move to the brink of success. Facing two games against Stafford, victory in both would have been enough but Cannock were only able to split the games. However, second placed Burton were beaten by Lichfield on the same day and could no longer catch up. With the title secure, Cannock lost to Burton to end the month, leaving Burton and Lichfield tied for second place with two games to play, the last of which is against one another. The inaugural title in the Warwickshire County League has gone to Warwick St Nicholas, who have dominated the league all year and won their first four games of September without allowing a run to make their lead insurmountable. The 9-2 defeat at Nuneaton which ended the month mattered little to them, while it may also be too late to help Nuneaton catch Leamington for second place. The fascinating race in the Derby and Nottingham League looks to have gone the way of Midland Loco, who will be champions if they win their final game against Sherwood. Victories over neighbours and outgoing champions Derby and newcomers Rock Valley have moved them to the brink of the crown, but both Sherwood and Trent Bridge can still force a tie. Sherwood lost three games out of five in September but if they can defeat Midland, victory in a rescheduled game at Ilkeston would leave them tied at the top. Trent Bridge can also tie if they win their last two and Midland lose to Sherwood, but Rock Valley’s hopes of a championship at the first attempt are over after four defeats from six games in the past month. In the Leicester and Northampton League, Wellingborough’s lead remains at one game after they won two and lost two in September, while postponements meant that second placed Loughborough played only twice, winning one and losing one. Wins in their first three games of the month looked to be dragging St Margaret’s back into the race, but a 2-1 loss at home to Wellingborough at the end of the month leaves them two games back with only three remaining. Loughborough have five to play while Wellingborough have only three, but intriguingly two of those are against Loughborough and those games will surely decide the destiny of this year’s championship. SCOTLAND Govan had to wait a week longer than expected to secure the Glasgow and District League crown, having let slip a ninth inning lead in losing to Tollcross in their first game of the month when victory would have decided the race. There was no mistake in their next game, a 1-0 victory over Lanark-Renfrew, and despite another loss later in the month against Airdrie they now have an enormous lead over deposed champions Tail o’ the Bank in the standings. Tail are now favourites to finish second, as Partick’s season is fading away after they lost all five games in September. In the East of Scotland League, Vallum Antonini could take the title at the first attempt having surged through September winning all five games, and taking their winning run to seven in total. Crucial to the race was a 4-3 win in an eighteen inning battle with Haymarket, who then lost again a week later when they met Leith. That gave Vallum a one game lead in the standings and they will be champions if they win their last two, but Haymarket are right behind them in case of a slip. The collapse of long-time leaders Arthur’s Seat has been dramatic, as they lost their first three games in September to take their losing run to seven overall. That run finally ended with victory over The Grange, but they ended the month losing 6-1 to Haymarket and are all-but mathematically out of the race after eight defeats in nine games. Having finished second by a single game in each of the league’s first four seasons, that run is coming to an end but not in the way they would have hoped or the way which looked certain when they recorded eighteen wins from their first twenty-two games this season. The race is over in the North Caledonian League, where Dundee Law looked to be making it a close fight with neighbours Firth of Tay when they won their first four games of September, including a 5-1 win over Firth when the two met. That left them just a single game behind with three to play, but after both won the following week the race came to its conclusion on the final Saturday of the month when the two contenders faced away games in Aberdeen. Firth of Tay recorded a victory over Aberdeen Ferryhill, and as they were setting out for the journey back south news came through to them that Dundee had lost at Old Aberdeen, meaning that the gap grew to two games with only one left to play. Dundee are already assured of second place, but that win for Old Aberdeen improves their chances of taking third.