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10-Point gap emerges at top of Division 1

Writer's picture: Veterans LeagueVeterans League

Veterans League


Suddenly there is a 10-point gap for the top two teams in Division 1 over the chasing pack of 6 teams who are only separated by 3 points. That 10-point lead will inevitably be threatened very soon with so many teams still in the hunt for honours.


Kirkheaton Con 'A' avenged their first defeat of the season which was 1-8 at Elland C&BC 'A' in May with a 9-0 triumph over a team that was in 3rd place at the start of the day. The last time that Elland C&BC lost 0-9 was Tuesday 8 August 2017, exactly 5 years and 1 day ago at Cowcliffe. The win only edged the Cons one point closer to the leaders, Golcar Lib 'A', after they clocked up an impressive 8-1 away scoreline at home bankers Meltham 'A'. Lockwood Con 'A' and Rastrick are locked together on 84 points and both had good home wins this week. The Cons winning 7-2 versus Clayton West and Rastrick beating Waterloo 5-4.

There was a setback to Lindley Lib 'A's hopes of avoiding relegation when going down heavily at Marsh United 'A' 1-8 after winning 2 of their previous 3 matches against top 5 opponents. That defeat was compounded by third from bottom Longwood having a good 6-3 away win at Cowcliffe and the gap to safety lengthening to 17 points with 7 matches left to play.


There is one Division 1 fixture today (Friday) when it is 6th v 11th, when Waterloo host Longwood.


There was also a 9-0 scoreline in Division 2 when Lowerhouses' 4-match unbeaten run came to a savage end at Thongsbridge 'A'. That result also saw them drop out of the 2nd promotion place quickly taken up by Almondbury BC 'A' who edged a tight match with Shepley by 5-4. An 8-1 home win for Milnsbridge 'A' against Hemplow 'A' saw them stretch their lead to 16 points as the chasing quartet have 4 point between them with Broad Oak 'A' and Netherton Con 'A' taking closer order after both recorded 7-2 wins this week.


Broad Oak 'A' inflicted the biggest home defeat (2-7) of the season on Bradley & Colne whilst Netherton Con 'A' saw off a Slaithwaite side 7-2 that had won their previous 3 fixtures.


New Mill 'A's 5-match winning run came to a surprise end away at Thorpe Green who had lost their 7 previous matches. New Mill get the opportunity to redeem themselves with a Friday home match against Almondbury BC 'A' with a number of teams at both ends of the table interested in the outcome.


New Mill's plight was aided by Lockwood Con 'B' going down 2-7 at bottom of the table Brockholes 'A' with the Cons fielding a team missing a number of regular bowlers who would have breached the 50% rule had they played this week and ruled themselves out of their place in their 6-man team in the Julie Fuller Trophy Final on Friday.


The Division 3 leaders, Linthwaite Hall, went down 2-7 away at Golcar Lib 'B' who retain 4th place in the table and Linthwaite Hall remain 9 points clear at the top as Denby Dale lost 3-6 at Paddock I&C and drop out of the promotion places as a result. Holmfirth 'A's 7-2 away win at Lindley Lib 'B' saw them take over 2nd place and as they still have their home fixture with Linthwaite Hall to play, anything is possible.


Almondbury Lib won 8-1 away at Huddersfield Recreation Club who have lost their last 3 matches and dropped down into the bottom half of the table after much early season promise. Although they are now just 8 points away from the drop zone but the 4 teams below them also all lost the week but it would be folly to depend on that becoming a regular thing. Springwood and Lindley Lib 'B' retain the two relegation places and Marsh United 'B' are within touching distance as well.


Springwood stay bottom after losing heavily 1-8 at Skel Windmill and with the worst possible run-in with the top four teams among their final 8 opponents it will take a great turn in results to save their season.


The top two teams in Division 4 both had good home wins to extend their lead ahead of third-placed Lindley BC 'B' to 10-points. Meltham 'B' stay top after an 8-1 home win over bottom-of-the-table Brockholes 'B' but have played a match more than Ravensknowle Park who sit 2 points behind them after a 7-2 home win over the Rugby Club.


Outlane move from 7th to 4th following their 8-1 home win over Primrose Hill Lib who are one of the three teams they overtook this week. Elland C&BC 'B' being another of that trio after surprisingly being beaten at home 2-7 by Almondbury BC 'B' who lifted themselves out of the relegation places at the same time with New Mill 'B' taking over that spot after losing 3-6 at home to Milnsbridge 'B'. Thongsbridge 'B' pushed Lindley BC 'B' all the way before succumbing to losing the aggregate and the match 4-5 but that damaged the Lindley team's promotion hopes as well as lightening their own relegation fears.


It was 4th v 3rd in Division 5 with Dalton beating Marsh Lib 6-3 but still dropping a place to 5th whilst the losers move up a place to 2nd. That is because David Brown Sports didn't have a match and drop to 3rd. Dalton were also overtaken by Broad Oak 'B' who were responsible for the third 9-0 scoreline in the Tuesday fixture programme which was against Netherton Con 'B'.


Top of the table Kirkheaton Con 'B' extended their lead to 20 points following their 8-1 away win at Greenhead Park taking their winning run into double figures. Bottom-of-the-table Holmfirth 'B' won for the third time this season when beating visitors Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' 6-3 and are now just a point and a game in hand behind Hemplow 'B'.

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