Ups and downs, ifs and buts, rain and shine… Love Lane Liverpool Competition permutations for Saturday, September 13

Just two games to go, but there is still plenty to play for in the Love Lane Liverpool Competition.

Titles in all three divisions are up for grabs, as well as one relegation slot in both the Premier Division and Division One, and two promotion places in the second tier.

A win can be worth between 20 and 25 points, while a draw or a defeat can yield between 0 and 10 and a tie is worth 15 to both sides.

And nobody wants it to come down to this, but we may not have a choice… an abandoned or uncompleted game means five each, unless a side had already earned more than five bonus points.

So dust off your calculators, cast a wary glance at the nearest cloud – and point out what I’ve got wrong.

ECB PREMIER DIVISION – TOP

Title Race

Club	Points	Sep 13	Sep 14	Sep 20
Ormskirk	366	WAL (h)	BPK (a)
Northern	350	RFD (h)		WIG (h)

Northern have the chance to pull off a heist when many people had written them off weeks ago.

Especially pertinent is that Ormskirk’s two remaining games are both this weekend, because of their ECB National Club Knockout final at Lord’s on September 20. Two consecutive days of rain is always more likely than two washouts a week apart.

But still, it’s in Ormskirk’s hands as long as the weather doesn’t intervene. The title can be theirs on Saturday if they beat Wallasey and Northern lose, draw or get rained off against Rainford; a tie would keep Northern in the race unless Ormskirk pick up 24 or 25 points.

And if Ormskirk win both their games, they are champions regardless of bonus points.

ECB PREMIER DIVISION – BOTTOM

Relegation battle

Club	Points	Sep 13	Sep 20
Firwood Bootle	199	LEI (h)	CBY (a)
Newton-le-Willows	192	FOR (h)	WAL (a)
Wigan	180	BPK (h)	NOR (a)
Colwyn Bay	155	RNL (a)	BOO (h)

If they want to avoid joining Birkenhead Park in Division One next season, Colwyn Bay need to either match Wigan’s points, or make major gains on Newton-le-Willows or (the longest of long shots) Firwood Bootle. A win for either of the latter two will make them 100% safe.

DIVISION ONE – TOP

Promotion race

Club	Points	Sep 13	Sep 20
Liverpool	348	SVW (h)	SUT (a)
Orrell Red Triangle	338	MGL (a)	OXV (h)
Spring View	317	LIV (a)	SEF (h)

The Aigburth microclimate is famous for staying dry when the rest of the region is wet – Liverpool might want it to take a break on Saturday, when a washout would secure top-flight status next season.

If they play, they simply need to avoid defeat and make sure Spring View don’t pick up an unlikely margin of bonus points. Orrell Red Triangle will be promoted if they win and View don’t.

DIVISION ONE – BOTTOM

Relegation battle

Club	Points	Sep 13	Sep 20
Hightown St Marys	209	HFD (h)	MGL (a)
New Brighton	201	SUT (h)	HFD (a)
Maghull	173	ORT (h)	HSM (h)
Old Xaverians	167	S&B (a)	ORT (a)

There is only one relegation slot because Lytham are leaving the Comp, and it couldn’t be much tighter between Maghull and Old Xaverians.

The Woolon side will almost certainly be down on Saturday if they lose and Maghull win; New Brighton and Hightown St Marys are in theoretical danger, but only if Xavs win both their last games.

DIVISION TWO – TOP

Title race

Club	Points	Sep 13	Sep 20
Ainsdale	406	FHS (h)	PRE (a)
Northop Hall	402	WFD (h)	WAV (h)

This is the only time in the history of the third tier that two teams have topped 400 points, so one of these two will count themselves unlucky to finish second. Promotion will be a pretty good consolation prize though.

With just four points separating them, it’s unlikely to be settled on Saturday, though Ainsdale will be champions if they outscore Northop Hall by 22 points.

There will be no relegation from Division Two this year, again due to Lytham’s withdrawal; Prestatyn are certain to finish bottom.

Southport & District League champions Cheshire Lines will join the division next year.

from Merseyside Cricket Online https://ift.tt/E5ANlfS