The West Yorkshire League is an annual league competition and this season 6 Clubs participated; Wetherby, Heckmondwike, Leeds, Mirfield, Huddersfield and Harrogate. This meant we played 5 matches away and 5 matches at our new terrain at Vesper Gate. The matches are played between teams of 6 players each, the first round is of two games of triples followed by3 games of pairs making 5 games per match. The league is decided on the number of games won over the series of 10 matches with points difference being used to determine final positions in the event of any draws.
Alan and I organised the Leeds team this year, and Leeds did quite well. The games are played on a day/time determined by the home team and this involved some interesting journeys across West Yorkshire. We sometimes had difficulties raising a team for our away matches but our thanks to all those who played for the team this year. We ended up coming third in the League this yearwith Wetherby being the outright winner.
Interestingly there is a further competition for the West Yorkshire Cup, and this is a straight knockout contest. The format is also slightly different in that the team is made up of 3 women and 3 men and the games comprise a women’s triple, a men’s triple and 3 mixed pairs.
Leeds played 3 matches this year, including beating Heckmondwike 3-2 with only 5 players!, and came up against Wetherby in the final, in Harrogate as a neutral venue and won the West Yorkshire Cup for the fourth time! Great work team.
The West Yorkshire League is a really interesting way to expand your playing experience beyond Club sessions, competition is friendly but keen, and visiting other Clubs is always interesting, playing with new people on different terrains.
Paul Matthews.
Leeds Pétanque 