WHILE teams in Aire-Wharfe League Divisions One and Division Three can take a relaxed approach to the last day of the season, knowing the major issues are resolved, all six matches in Division Two have significance for promotion or relegation.

North Leeds currently fill the second promotion spot on 235 points, six ahead of Green Lane, and ten better off than Colton, but they face arguably the hardest match of the three at Adel.

Green Lane take on already-relegated Bolton Villas. Their hopes of overhauling their rivals might rest on winning the toss.

That would allow them to bat first and use the outstanding form of Michael Abbott and Waleed Akhtar, who have already more than 1,000 runs between them this season, to rack up plenty of batting bonus points, and then try to bowl out Villas to gain maximum bowling bonus points.

Colton who, despite losing three in a row since beating North Leeds, will be expected to beat struggling Upper Wharfedale, and will also need to grab as many bonus points as they can.

They will have plenty of players rooting for them from Skipton, Harden and Thackley, who know defeat for Wharfedale should ensure they survive in Division Two. Skipton and Harden both need seven more points to be safe but face tough matches at Knaresborough and Follifoot.

Thackley travel to Tong Park Esholt and, after two straight wins, should certainly be able to pick up the three points they need to survive a tough season of transition after losing several of their best players before the campaign started.

In Division One, Otley bring their triumphant championship campaign to a close at Collingham, one of only three sides to defeat them this season but whom they have since eclipsed in winning the Waddilove Cup final.

Two of the sides who have been overshadowed by Otley but shown enough good form to suggest they could well be challengers next season meet in what could be one of the matches of the day.

Burley, who will keen to make sure of the runners-up spot, travel to Ilkley whose late run, including victory over Otley, has taken them to fourth. Ilkley have an outside chance of nicking third from Beckwithshaw, who face Rawdon, whose win over Burley two weeks ago means they are safe for another year.

Ben Rhydding’s final top-flight game, for now, is at Kirkstall, while Steeton host Guiseley.

After an outstanding season in which they have suffered only one defeat, Horsforth bid farewell to Division Three with a mouth-watering clash against New Rover, who, until the last few weeks, looked as though they might also challenge Illingworth for the second promotion spot.

Calverley’s hopes of bouncing straight back after relegation never quite recovered from losing two of their three first games, and there may well be a feeling of what might have been when they wrap up the season with what should be a win over Bardsey, the side they came down with 12 months ago.

Addingham’s late-season form will also have them wondering if they might have done better as they travel to Silsden, while Menston entertain Alwoodley and Olicanian travel to Hall Park, who will want revenge after being bowled out for 69 the last time the sides met.