Veterans League
Completing the weekly review by looking at all the Division 3, 4 and 5 results
The season started for the other three divisions in the Veterans 10-Man League this week and we will start off with the performance of the day which came in Division 5. Greenhead Park opened their season with a 9-0 whitewash win over New Mill 'B' and that is their first 9-0 win since September 2019 when they beat a 9-man Dalton side. There have been more 0-9 reversals than wins over the past 10 years but this is an outstanding start for a team that has been a permanent fixture in the bottom division of the League for many years and argues well for a better time ahead.
The New Mill 'B'side was a Division 4 team last season and they were relegated along with Brockholes 'B' who had a better start to life in Division 5 than their relegated partners. They won 6-3 away at Hemplow 'B' who finished with the Wooden Spoon last year.
Broad Oak 'B' were also away winners beating Kirkheaton C&BC 7-2 to end the first week of the season in second place in the new table. Milnsbridge 'B' and the much-fancied Dalton team were also opening day winners by the same 6-3 scoreline at home to Netherton Con 'B' and David Brown Sports respectively.
There were four 7-2 scorelines in Division 4 in the opening round of fixtures but only one of those was for the away team. That was Springwood who started well with a win over Lindley BC 'B' whilst Thongsbridge 'B' head the table courtesy of only dropping three points to collect a 144 aggregate score over visiting Ravensknowle Park.
Marsh Lib and the Rugby Club were the other 7-2 winners with Marsh Lib enjoying the step up in levels to defeat a Lindley Lib 'B' side that was playing in Division 3 last season. The Rugby Club will be pleased with their win over Primrose Hill Lib who finished two places higher than them in the 2022 final Division 4 table. Kirkheaton Con 'B' came up to this level as last year's Division 5 Champions but they started the new season by losing at Almondbury BC 'B' by a 3-6 scoreline.
The Division 3 result of the day was the only away win when Golcar Lib 'B' overwhelmed Paddock I&C 8-1. There were two more 8-1 scorelines both for the home teams at Skel Windmill and Lockwood Con 'B'. This was a heartening performance for the Lockwood side that suffered relegation last year and a big win over last season's Division 4 Champions, Meltham 'B', to open their 2023 account. Outlane were promoted along with the Meltham team from Division 4 and they suffered a similar fate to their promoted partners when going down 1-8 at Skel Windmill.
The other three opening-day fixtures all finished with a 7-2 scoreline with Brockholes 'A', Denby Dale and Almondbury Lib all making bright starts to the new season. Brockholes especially will be pleased to get a win under their belts after only claiming one win in their first 11 matches last season which was the prime reason for their relegation.
Denby Dale will be pleased with their home win over the much-fancied Slaithwaite side and Almondbury Lib will be keen to build on a win over Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' who finished three places higher than them in Division 3 at the end of last season.
So we are up and running with six months of bowling ahead of us and much to look forward to which will all be reported with weekly previews and result reviews right through the season on HuddWeb.
Comments