Of thirty four matches scheduled for November, two were postponed. Rooks' visit to Cheddleton D fell victim of the Rooks captain being abroad, though they have now made a (temporary?) appointment to prevent further matches falling foul of a lack of organiser. Stafford and Kidsgrove have I believe rearranged their Intermediate cup fixture to early December. Time will tell whether Christmas parties and family commitments produce a flurry of postponements in the near future.

So thirty two matches were played in November. Except they weren't. Only thirty. Alsager A seem to have developed an allergy to trips to Cheddleton, conceding against both the home club's B and C teams. This has led to an expectation that the visit to the D team, postponed in October will also become a concession. Entering a competition is surely a commitment to play all the relevant matches if at all possible. There is no secret that Cheddleton play at Leek on a Friday. If Leek on a Friday is never suitable for your team members, then your team is entering undr false pretences. I'd love many more teams to form and play in North Staffs competitions, but picking and choosing which fixtures to fulfil is not fair on other entrants.

Division 1 Newcastle A 3 2 0 1 4 Stafford A 2 2 0 0 4 Cheddleton A 1 0 0 1 0 H C Kings 2 0 0 2 0

Division 3 Cheddleton E 5 4 1 0 9 Kidsgrove 5 3 1 1 7 Alsager B 5 2 1 2 5 Meir A 4 1 2 1 4 Newcastle C 4 1 1 2 3 H Chapel Pawns 4 1 1 2 3 Cheddleton F 5 1 1 3 3 Stafford B 4 0 2 2 2

Division 5 Meir D 3 2 1 0 5 Meir C 3 1 1 1 3 Cheddleton J 3 1 0 2 2 Fenton C 3 0 2 1 2 Cheddleton I 3 0 2 1 2 Fenton D 1 1 0 0 2

Division 2 Macclesfield 6 5 1 0 11 Cheddleton C 6 4 0 2 8 Newcastle B 5 3 0 2 6 H Chapel Knights 5 2 1 2 5 Cheddleton B 5 1 2 2 4 Fenton A 5 2 0 3 4 H Chapel Rooks 4 1 1 2 3 Cheddleton D 3 1 1 1 3 Alsager A 5 0 0 5 0

Division 4 Fenton B 4 4 0 0 8 Meir B 5 3 0 2 6 Newcastle E 4 3 0 1 6 Alsager C 4 2 0 2 4 Newcastle D 3 1 0 2 2 Cheddleton H 4 1 0 3 2 H C Tiny Pawns 4 0 0 4 0

Enough moaning. All teams in the first division have played at least one match, with Newcastle picking up 4 points more than they had anticipated. The author thinks that should say 5. To see why, read his diary for the 27th November when he gets around to writing that entry.

The Stafford team against Holmes Chapel weighed in at 936. Our league is structured with an average grade limit difference of 15 points per division - 110 in division 5, 115 in four, 130 in 3, 145 in 2. Continuing this would give 160 in one (total 800), 175 in nought (total 875), 190 in minus one (950). So that Stafford team lives in division minus one, as does the Cheddleton 899 line-up. That's three divisions above division two strength. If you want to know why second division teams don't want to play in division one, it becomes obvious when you appreciate that the gap between the two can be as large as that between division five and division two. Not many fifth division teams volunteering to play in division two methinks.

Last month I said that I wasn't willing to predict the outcome of division two. Whilst I stand by that statement, I have to admit that Macclesfield are making it look as if I'm pretending the teams are more closely matched than they are in reality as another three wins has enabled them to open up a three point gap. But I maintain that there are still plenty of tough matches ahead before their names can be inscribed on the trophy. On the other hand I have to admit I'd rather have the points on the board rather than relying on them to hit a sticky patch to close the gap. At the other end of the table Alsager A are surprising strugglers, even allowing for their "here be monsters" view of the territory around Leek.

Stafford's poor start to division three has continued, and they now prop up the table. That would definitely not have formed part of my pre-season predictions.

Three wins for Fenton B have catapulted them to the top of division four, from which spot I suspect they will take a bit of dislodging. Other teams in the division have the potential to win matches, but I suspect not with the same consistency as Fenton.

Meir haven't won a league since 2004/5 when they won the old third division as Creda. Few would complain therefore if they were able to stay top of the pile in division five, though with Fenton and Cheddleton two of the clubs most addicted to winning it won't be easy for them. Meir's is the longest trophyless run in the North Staffs Association's competitions. The other clubs overdue a title are Kidsgrove whose previous win was in what is now the Intermediate Cup in 2006/7, and Alsager whose last title was the division three one in 2007/8, the second year of our current system.

All three cup matches played in November were close affairs. Cheddleton and Newcastle beat Macclesfield and Alsager respectively by the same 4½ - 3½ scoreline, whilst Newcastle also crept through on board count against Holmes Chapel in the Intermediate cup.

The North Staffs Doubles was held at Holmes Chapel yesterday, resulting in narrow victories for Alex Richardson and Steve Emmerton in the 320 section, and Jacob Cartlidge and Dominic Taylor in the 220. The former, with 6½/10 were a half point clear of Mike Hancock & Malcolm Roberts and Railton Hyde & Robert Taylor. The 220 winners needed their seven points to win by an equally small margin from defending champions David Price and Paul Clifford.