2015-2016 SEASON SUMMARY
Playoffs were introduced this season to maintain interest in the competition to the final week. Cuffley B came through from second position in the league to take the title, beating league toppers St Margaret's A in the final. Third place went to Letchworth after their playoff win against Greenwood.
PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS
CUFFLEY B
LEAGUE LEADERS
ST MARGARET'S A
Cuffley B opened their season with the toughest of matches against St Margaret's A, losing by 2 shots. A winning streak of 3 games was halted by Greenwood in a low scoring thriller in which the teams were separated by a single shot. Their only other loss was a similar 1 shot defeat at the hands of Letchworth. A big win in the final game, coupled with the surprise defeat of Letchworth, meant that Cuffley B leapt to second place and ultimate playoff success.
St Margaret's A won 8 of their 9 league games, their single blemish coming against their club mates St Margaret's B. Their competitiveness can be seen in their string of tight score lines. This winning character was seen at its best in a very closely fought playoff semi final in which the result was in doubt until the last 2 bowls. Having finished the league programme 4 points better than their nearest rivals, St Margaret's A fell to only their second loss of the campaign in the playoff final.
Letchworth came across St Margaret's A in the third week of the regular season and lost again to Greenwood two weeks later. They recovered strongly from these early setbacks to go unbeaten until their last game. They were clear favourites to finish the league in second position but slipped up against Harpenden A and opened the door for Cuffley B to climb above them. Third place meant a tough playoff draw against St Margaret's A but they came within one bowl of making the final. Letchworth went on to take the third place trophy beating Greenwood by 2 shots.
Greenwood started the season very strongly with three wins including defeats of Letchworth and Cuffley B. They slipped up against both Harpenden teams but their only other defeat was a single shot loss to St Margaret's A in their final game which denied them a second place league finish. Greenwood ran Cuffley B close in the playoff semi finals before being disappointed in the 3rd/4th place match.
Harpenden B didn't play their first game until week 4 but stormed to four straight wins remaining unbeaten until the new year. Their first slip up was against their sister team. At this point Harpenden B were well placed to finish in the playoff slots but three defeats in their last four games saw them end up in the worst possible 5th position.
Harpenden A were right behind their club mates. They beat two of the top four teams and lost by just 1 shot to St Margaret's A. Their final game of the regular season proved very significant as their 16-7 win over Letchworth decided the playoff placings.
St Margaret's B had a mixed season. They took 3 points from their first two games and subjected their club colleagues, St Margaret's A, to their only defeat in the league.
Cuffley A failed to register a point in the first two thirds of their programme, sitting rock bottom of the league until week 13. This proved to be their lucky week with a convincing win over Northiam A which inspired them to a perfect finish; three wins out of three.
Northiam A won a third of their games including wins over Harpenden B and St Margaret's B.
Northiam B put in a spirited performance throughout the league season. By giving competitive experience to developing players, the Northiam club are to be commended for investing in their future.
The Barnet League continues to be keenly fought. Apart from runaway leaders St Margaret's A, no other team won more than two thirds of their games and second position was separated from second bottom by just 6 points. The playoffs added an exciting finish and some fine bowling to the last weeks of the season.