NETHERTON Con B are doing their best to ease some pain for their club.

Barring some surprise results in this Saturday’s final programme, their A team will be relinquishing the Subscription cup title to Thongsbridge C&BC.

So the fact that Netherton’s B side are making a strong attempt to get the third promotion place into the Subscription will come as some consolation.

By a quirk of the fixtures, both Netherton teams play their opposite numbers from Lockwood Con, who will be doing their level best to make them work hard for their points.

Relegation matters are already settled in the Subscription, with Clayton West, Brockholes and Cowcliffe Lib all taking the drop.

There’s a scramble at the bottom of the Drayton to avoid the third relegation place and the outcome may well rest on the result of the Elland CA&BC and Paddock C&BC match, the loser being favourite for the drop, although Grange Moor and Broad Oak cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

Despite Shepley BC leading the Littlewood Cup, they have finished their fixtures as they have a bye in the last week.

It therefore appears that Linthwaite Hall have a simple matter of scoring just four points to secure that Cup and return to the Drayton after just one year’s absence, although chickens will certainly not be counted up the Colne Valley.

Kirkheaton Con B and Lockwood Con C, respectively, have the Bamforth and Ingham Cups well wrapped up already, while Lower Hopton B are in pole position in the 10-man Beaumont Cup.

Intriguingly, in the 8-man Binns Cup, the fixtures have thrown up the top four playing each other, although Lindley BC B will fancy their chances of holding onto top spot.