1st round preview

I was hoping to preview around 10 to 12 first round games but sadly, events
have conspired against me this week and I just simply haven't had enough spare time to do this.

However, I have been able to preview the following games:

Malt Shovel v West Bowling
Wharfedale Triangle champions Malt Shovel take on Bradford Alliance league
winners and West Riding County Cup holders West Bowling for the second time this season, as they met back in August for an inter-league challenge match and season 'curtain raiser'.

West Bowling were victorious then and I expect the same outcome on Sunday, although Malt Shovel are a decent side with a couple of very good players, so it won't be a formality for Bowling. I'll be at this game and will post a match report on Sunday evening.

Applebys v Hanham Sunday
Bristol sides have a decent record in the Sunday Cup and Hanham are the champions of the Bristol & District league, which is strongest of the three Bristol leagues that have entered teams in this season’s competition.

Hanham hit the national headlines last year, when their end of season tour to Crete saw 17 of their party arrested for wearing nun’s costumes!!

Apparently, fancy dress themed tours are a club tradition dating back to the 1960’s, although the Greek authorities failed to see the funny side and players and officials from Hanham weren’t laughing either, when they had to spend 40 hours in a prison cell they described as ‘cramped and disgusting’.

Hopefully their journey to Torbay will be a little less adventurous but lets hope they haven’t forgotten their winning habit!! (groan).

Blue Mugge v R.H.P Sports & Social
This tie pits a team from the second division of the Potteries league (Blue Mugge) against opposition from the Senior division of the Newark Alliance.

At first glance, it would seem a stroll in the park for R.H.P, however, appearances can often prove deceptive and last season Blue Mugge lifted an incredible 7 trophies, including the Leek & District league Premier Division title and the Staffordshire County FA Premier Cup (they beat Sunday Cup regulars Belt Road 3-1 in the quarter-final). It was due to this hugely successful season that they can now appear in the Sunday Cup.

They now decided to try their luck in the Potteries league, which is considered to be of a higher standard to the Leek and District.

R.H.P, like Blue Mugge, are also reigning league and County champions, as they lifted the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy last season. They are 100% after 3 league games this season and can boast a +13 goal difference, so will give the Leek outfit a real test.