10-Man League Weekly Preview

Veterans League

A preview of the Veterans 10-Man League fixture programme for Tuesday 11 April

Marsh United 'A' had a bye last week so have a delayed start to the new season and they won't relish an opening fixture away to reigning Division 1 Champions Golcar Lib 'A'. Having said that they had a great start last season but will need to find that level of form to get anything at the home of Golcar Lib.

The two newly promoted teams had rough introductions to top-tier bowling last week but have very different levels of opponents lined up this Tuesday. Lowerhouses entertain Lockwood Cons who sit at the top of the table after Week 1 results whilst Milnsbridge 'A' go to Meltham 'A' who had a big defeat at Lockwood Con last week and have historically relied heavily on their home form to keep them out of the relegation scramble. This year may be no different so it will be interesting to see the outcome.

Last year Kirkheaton Con 'A' had one 9-0 win all season and that was at home to Elland C&BC 'A' and that fixture comes around early this term with both teams keen to make comparisons with last year's form. Two teams with opening day wins last week meet at Clayton West where Longwood are the visitors whilst Rastrick will be looking for a first win at home to Cowcliffe.

Almondbury BC 'A' are the Fantasy League Division 2 favourites to lift the title but they had a disappointing start to the season going down at home to Netherton Con 'A' and with no match this week will find themselves nearer the bottom than top of the Week 2 table on Tuesday night. Netherton Con 'A' will be looking to build on that bright start when they host promoted Holmfirth 'A' whilst much-fancied Linthwaite Hall have to challenge the strong home form of Broad Oak 'A'.

Lindley Lib 'A' and Thongsbridge 'A' both had good wins last week and sit 2nd and 3rd as they face each other this week. Relegated Lindley BC 'A' top the Week 1 table after an emphatic 8-1 opening day victory and will be looking to build on that at Shepley this week.

Thorpe Green and Holmfirth 'A' both lost their first matches of the season last week and one of them will address that situation this Tuesday when the two teams meet. New Mill 'A' will be hoping that home advantage will enable them to open their season's account this week but Bradley & Colne come to visit in good heart with a good home win already under their belts.

A brief introduction to the main contenders for each of the other three divisions as they play their first matches of the 2023 season.

Eleven of the twelve teams in Division 3 have attracted supporters among the Fantasy League entrants making it the most contested division according to the Fantasy Punters. The one outlier being Paddock I&C who didn't attract a single punter to select them but will be aiming to prove the punters wrong. What better way to prove that than by beating the Fantasy League Division 3 favourites Golcar Lib 'B' who have twice as many votes as any of their opponents. Three defeats in their last four matches of the season last year cost Golcar Lib 'B' dearly as they missed out on promotion by 3 points. One of those defeats was away at Paddock so there is some unfinished business looming that they will be aiming to address.

Last season Kirkheaton Con 'B' won the Division 5 title by 18 points which has encouraged the Fantasy League punters to vote them the Division 4 favourites this year with twice as many votes as their nearest rivals. After a trip to play Amondbury BC 'B' we will have a better idea if that particular level of support is justified or not. The Kirkheaton team has something to prove at this level having been relegated from this division two years ago so will be looking to make a better start this time around.

Dalton and David Brown Sports finished third and fourth in last season's final Division 5 table with 7 points between them and they open their season going head-to-head with the dreaded vote of the Fantasy League punters casting a shadow over Dalton's chances.

Now read more local bowling news