Pennine Preview

2012 kicks off with two huge games for Sedge in league and cup. The first team host Kippax Welfare, who are locked on six points with Sedbergh just one point above the drop zone. The former Premier Division side may be a bit rusty, as they have not played a competitive fixture since their mid-November triumph over Odsal at their place. Since then they have been the benefactors of a walkover victory in the Pennine Cup but then failed to raise a side for their final two fixtures of 2011, being docked four league points in the process. Victory is vital for both sides as the loser in this encounter looks all but certain to finish the season scrapping it out for survival.

The 2nds – who have not donned a kit since the Bonfire Night loss to Guiseley – face the first team’s divisional rivals West Bowling A in the Hudson Foster Bradford Cup. It’s anyone’s guess what the outcome of this cup tie will be; both sides are struggling in their respective leagues, both sides have been docked points and both sides will be desperate to get one over their nearest rivals.

From the six other sides battling it out for a place in the Semis you’d expect home bankers for Wibsey A over Wyke A and Queeny A over Vics, but the all-Sixth division clash between the Undercliffe and Clayton A could be a bit trickier to predict. The Wildboars sit second in the league, and have had two handsome home victories in their last two games – however, the Villagers have the psychological advantage after a 18-10 win at Lidget Green earlier this season.

Of the other local cup matches taking place this weekend the one to watch has to be the Heavey Woollen John Kane Cup tie between Dewsbury Moor and Hanging Heaton. Division Six leaders HH have hardly been tested this season as they run away with the league, so a Dewsbury derby against Championship outfit Moor could well show just how far up the Pennine League ladder HH might be climbing in the coming years. Expect a much closer result than their 6-division separation might suggest.

Alternativley, for anyone over in Lancashire this weekend the Division Five fixture between Rochdale side Whitworth Spartans and Huddersfield’s St. Josephs A could be a cracker. Both teams have won 3 lost 5 in the league so far with Joes winning the reverse fixture 40-20 earlier in the campaign.