The Midland League

More than half the teams in the League wound up their programme on Saturday,

Wednesday finished at the top, and Denaby, for the first time in their history, are runners-up and can claim credit for giving the Sheffielders as severe a shock as they are, likely to suffer for some years to come.

However. it is very evident that those cauibts who were formerly regarded as outsiders, are approaching, season by season, the form of the Sheffield. clubs, and their downfall is bound to come sooner or later.

Last year, Grimsby Reserve fought fiercely for the championship. This year it was Denaby.

Next year it may be Rotherham, or some other good sound club. Sheffield United Reserve have fallen from first place to fourth—and the month of April has for them been most disastrous.

Denaby’s improvement is as pronounced as, unfortunately, is Mexboro’s humiliation, and -yet that humiliation is moderated by a belated recovery. Whereas at one time we appeared to be in for the bottom position, we finish eighth from the bottom, which is very satisfactory, considering the hard luck which has assailed us all the season. Still the position compares ill with that we attained last year,that is fifth in the list.

Denaby have gone from sixth to second, and poor old Rotherham County are nowhere, or at least they are where they least desire to be. They tried hard o. Saturday against Mexboro,’, but the town had the better of a heavy-soaring game. Rotherham Town have improved tremendously during the season. They have raised themselves in the lists, and, in my opinion, the Sheffield clubs may anticipate real danger in this direction next season provided they are unsuccessful in their application for admission to the Second League.