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as5680 · 12-05-2021, 10:37 AM

MONTHLY ROUND-UP: MAY 1874

LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST

There is effectively a four-way tie at the top of the Metropolitan League as we head into June, with the Old Westminsters having fractionally the better winning percentage as a result of having played fewer games. Hackney lost sole possession of first place after a 4-0 defeat against Clapham, although they recovered to end the month with victory over a fading Greenwich team. They are joined at the top by the Westminsters, Clapham and Angel, all of whom won their last two games. Putney are starting to fall back after their impressive start, while champions The Regent’s Park dragged themselves out of last place by winning their last two, following a dreadful seven game losing run.

Middlesex County League champions Isleworth dropped back into a tie for first place after ending May with a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Enfield, a result which allowed Ealing to catch them by defeating the struggling Old Harrovians. Tottenham are only one game behind after winning their last two in what seems set to be a close three-way fight. In the Kent County League, Rochester opened May by losing to champions Bexley Heath but went on to win their next four, opening up a one-game lead in first place. Gravesend lead the chase, with their victory over Bexley Heath helping to drop the champions two back in a tie for third with Maidstone. The Surrey County League’s first season looks difficult to call as Norwood have lost their last two and seen a two-game lead disappear. They have been caught by both Croydon and Reigate, while Kingston’s victory over Norwood helped to bring them to within them only one game of the three leaders.

LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST

Miles Platting seem set to take the Manchester and District League championship this year as they are now the only undefeated team in any league, winning their first eleven games to open up a significant lead. They were helped by the decline of champions Salford, who lost to Bury having led in the ninth inning and then did likewise when they faced Miles Platting a week later. In all, they lost four of their five games in May and now share third with Bury and Rochdale, as Irwell now lead the chase in second. Champions Liverpool and newcomers Wigan are battling for first place in the Liverpool and District League, with Liverpool a fraction ahead having defeated Wigan in their first meeting of the year only to fall to an improving Sankey team a week later. Sankey sit a game behind Wigan in third. Accrington end the month leading the Lancashire County League, helped by a victory over a Ribble team who had an inconsistent month. It may not just be a two-horse race however, as Chorley ended May by defeating both the leaders 1-0 in successive weeks to close the gap.

YORKSHIRE

Champions and newcomers are also fighting at the top of the Leeds and Bradford League, with Bradford’s defeat to neighbours Bowling allowing Batley to move back to the top of the standings in what is proving to be an excellent first season. They had fallen behind earlier in May having lost narrowly 1-0 to Bradford. Just one game off the pace are Woodhouse Lane, who have won their last three including a win over the reigning champions. In the Sheffield and District League, champions Doncaster lead the way but may find themselves with company at the top once postponed games are played later in the year. Doncaster, Barnsley and Sanderson’s Weir have all suffered four defeats, but Doncaster have played and won two more games. The two chasers will be frustrated at their lack of consistency, especially Barnsley who followed a win over Doncaster by losing in extra innings to Hallamshire in their last game.

MIDLANDS

Having won their first three games in May, Small Heath lead the Birmingham and District League but their 5-4 loss to Dudley in the final game of the month reduced that advantage to a single game. Dudley now lead the chase as Birmingham Main Line have lost their last three, while champions Edgbaston have now lost six successive games having endured a winless month. They appear to be contending with The Regent’s Park for the weakest championship defence of the year. In the Derby and Nottingham League, Trent Bridge have a one-game lead over Sherwood having won the meeting of those two Nottingham rivals 3-2 in thirteen innings midway through the month. Early season leaders Midland Loco have fallen back into third place, losing three of their four games in May including meetings with both of the clubs now ahead of them.

SCOTLAND

Glasgow and District League champions Burgh of Partick have been drawn back closer to the chasing pack after ending May with defeats against Dundashill and Govan. They are still in first place but only by a fraction from both of those teams. There is in fact a three-way tie for second place, with Tollcross the third team in there despite a mixed month which brought two wins and two defeats. In the East of Scotland League, Dunfermline have moved back ahead of Kirkcaldy at the top of the standings as a result of defeating their Fife rivals 2-1 in the final game of the month. That marked a third successive loss for Kirkcaldy, who won just once in May and are now a game behind in second place.

UNIVERSITIES

At Oxford University, Brasenose are closing in on the championship after a superb month which saw them win eight of their nine games, including victories over championship rivals Merton and Magdalen. Magdalen have now dropped out of contention after a poor month, while New College’s hopes were hit by defeats in their last two games and it seems that Merton are likely to be the only team who can stop Brasenose now. Over in Cambridge, Trinity College seemed to be falling away after losing three of four early in May, but they won their next four to draw level with Gonville and Caius at the top. The two then met in the final game of the month, which Trinity won 4-0 to take a one-game lead in June. Clare and King’s are falling away after both lost six of ten in May, but St John’s could yet make a challenge as they have now won eight of their last nine to sit just two games behind Trinity in third place.

12-05-2021, 10:37 AM	#152
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	MONTHLY ROUND-UP: MAY 1874 LONDON AND SOUTH-EAST There is effectively a four-way tie at the top of the Metropolitan League as we head into June, with the Old Westminsters having fractionally the better winning percentage as a result of having played fewer games. Hackney lost sole possession of first place after a 4-0 defeat against Clapham, although they recovered to end the month with victory over a fading Greenwich team. They are joined at the top by the Westminsters, Clapham and Angel, all of whom won their last two games. Putney are starting to fall back after their impressive start, while champions The Regent’s Park dragged themselves out of last place by winning their last two, following a dreadful seven game losing run. Middlesex County League champions Isleworth dropped back into a tie for first place after ending May with a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Enfield, a result which allowed Ealing to catch them by defeating the struggling Old Harrovians. Tottenham are only one game behind after winning their last two in what seems set to be a close three-way fight. In the Kent County League, Rochester opened May by losing to champions Bexley Heath but went on to win their next four, opening up a one-game lead in first place. Gravesend lead the chase, with their victory over Bexley Heath helping to drop the champions two back in a tie for third with Maidstone. The Surrey County League’s first season looks difficult to call as Norwood have lost their last two and seen a two-game lead disappear. They have been caught by both Croydon and Reigate, while Kingston’s victory over Norwood helped to bring them to within them only one game of the three leaders. LANCASHIRE AND NORTH-WEST Miles Platting seem set to take the Manchester and District League championship this year as they are now the only undefeated team in any league, winning their first eleven games to open up a significant lead. They were helped by the decline of champions Salford, who lost to Bury having led in the ninth inning and then did likewise when they faced Miles Platting a week later. In all, they lost four of their five games in May and now share third with Bury and Rochdale, as Irwell now lead the chase in second. Champions Liverpool and newcomers Wigan are battling for first place in the Liverpool and District League, with Liverpool a fraction ahead having defeated Wigan in their first meeting of the year only to fall to an improving Sankey team a week later. Sankey sit a game behind Wigan in third. Accrington end the month leading the Lancashire County League, helped by a victory over a Ribble team who had an inconsistent month. It may not just be a two-horse race however, as Chorley ended May by defeating both the leaders 1-0 in successive weeks to close the gap. YORKSHIRE Champions and newcomers are also fighting at the top of the Leeds and Bradford League, with Bradford’s defeat to neighbours Bowling allowing Batley to move back to the top of the standings in what is proving to be an excellent first season. They had fallen behind earlier in May having lost narrowly 1-0 to Bradford. Just one game off the pace are Woodhouse Lane, who have won their last three including a win over the reigning champions. In the Sheffield and District League, champions Doncaster lead the way but may find themselves with company at the top once postponed games are played later in the year. Doncaster, Barnsley and Sanderson’s Weir have all suffered four defeats, but Doncaster have played and won two more games. The two chasers will be frustrated at their lack of consistency, especially Barnsley who followed a win over Doncaster by losing in extra innings to Hallamshire in their last game. MIDLANDS Having won their first three games in May, Small Heath lead the Birmingham and District League but their 5-4 loss to Dudley in the final game of the month reduced that advantage to a single game. Dudley now lead the chase as Birmingham Main Line have lost their last three, while champions Edgbaston have now lost six successive games having endured a winless month. They appear to be contending with The Regent’s Park for the weakest championship defence of the year. In the Derby and Nottingham League, Trent Bridge have a one-game lead over Sherwood having won the meeting of those two Nottingham rivals 3-2 in thirteen innings midway through the month. Early season leaders Midland Loco have fallen back into third place, losing three of their four games in May including meetings with both of the clubs now ahead of them. SCOTLAND Glasgow and District League champions Burgh of Partick have been drawn back closer to the chasing pack after ending May with defeats against Dundashill and Govan. They are still in first place but only by a fraction from both of those teams. There is in fact a three-way tie for second place, with Tollcross the third team in there despite a mixed month which brought two wins and two defeats. In the East of Scotland League, Dunfermline have moved back ahead of Kirkcaldy at the top of the standings as a result of defeating their Fife rivals 2-1 in the final game of the month. That marked a third successive loss for Kirkcaldy, who won just once in May and are now a game behind in second place. UNIVERSITIES At Oxford University, Brasenose are closing in on the championship after a superb month which saw them win eight of their nine games, including victories over championship rivals Merton and Magdalen. Magdalen have now dropped out of contention after a poor month, while New College’s hopes were hit by defeats in their last two games and it seems that Merton are likely to be the only team who can stop Brasenose now. Over in Cambridge, Trinity College seemed to be falling away after losing three of four early in May, but they won their next four to draw level with Gonville and Caius at the top. The two then met in the final game of the month, which Trinity won 4-0 to take a one-game lead in June. Clare and King’s are falling away after both lost six of ten in May, but St John’s could yet make a challenge as they have now won eight of their last nine to sit just two games behind Trinity in third place.