Veterans League
Review of matches played on Tuesday 20 July
Kirkheaton Con 'A' became the first team to reach 100 points mark for the season when beating bottom of the Section 2 table side Paddock I&C by 8-1. That took their season's total to exactly 100 points with the symmetrical balance of 50 points scored in 7 home matches and 50 scored in 7 away matches. With their two nearest challengers, Broad Oak 'A' and Lindley BC 'A' due to play each other this week but postponed due to COVID isolations, the gap to the chasing pack has widened to 23 points. Fourth-placed Thorpe Green failed to take advantage of the absence of the two teams immediately above them when going down heavily 1-8 away at Shepley. New Mill 'A' made it three wins on the bounce with a 7-2 away win at Brockholes 'A' and Hemplow continued their climb away from the drop zone with a 7-2 home win over Almondbury BC 'A'. All that leaves Paddock I&C and Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' in serious trouble as the gap between them and safety continues to look ominously wide.
Of the 28 league matches played on Tuesday only 6 of them favoured the away teams with one of those being a key fixture in Section 1 as reigning Champions Lockwood Con 'A' won 7-2 at bottom of the table Thongsbridge 'A'. Golcar Lib 'A' had two home matches in the week with a 17-1 aggregate total following up their 9-0 roasting of Meltham 'A' on Friday with a Tuesday 8-1 win over Longwood which elevated them into second position just a point behind the leaders. Two other 8-1 home wins kept Elland C&BC 'A' and Waterloo very much in the frame for continuing involvement in top-of-the-table matters. Elland are now 4 points off the top whilst Waterloo are 5 points further back after a 7th successive home win which keeps the Section's only 100% home record intact. The bottom four teams all lost their games this week with Thongsbridge 'A' now 19 points adrift of safety with the other three teams seemingly in fear of occupying the second relegation place currently held by Netherton Con 'A'.
Holmfirth 'A' held on to the top spot in Section 3 for just 7 days despite winning their home match with third-placed Slaithwaite this week. It was the tightest of margins as a 127-125 aggregate outcome saw the Holmfirth side edge the points 6-3 whilst Lowerhouses were winning 7-2 at home against the foot of the table Outlane team to reclaim the leading position in Section 5 as we move into the second half of the season. Golcar Lib 'B' retain fourth place despite losing 3-6 at Skel Windmill and the bottom four teams all lost to see no changes in the running order this week.
Five matches in Section 4 and all resulted in home wins with leaders Denby Dale have a bye-week leaving Huddersfield Recreation Club the prime benefactor after an 8-1 home win over Netherton Con 'B' saw them move within 2 points of the leaders. Wins for the B teams from Lindley BC and Milnsbridge kept them both in contention whilst wins for Almondbury BC 'B' and Primrose Hill Lib enabled them to widen the gap to the bottom two teams who both lost. Netherton Con 'B' being one of those teams and they were losing for the 9th consecutive game this week but still retain a 5-point lead over Kirkheaton Con 'B' who lost for the 4th consecutive match when going down narrowly 4-5 at Almondbury BC 'B'.
A 3rd win in their last 4 fixtures has seen David Brown Sports leave bottom place in Section 5 behind them as they continue to climb the table with an 8-1 home win over Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' being the latest success. At the opposite end the clash between 2nd and 3rd placed teams opened up an opportunity for Marsh Lib to close the gap to the 2nd promotion place but they failed to grasp it when going down 2-7 at New Mill 'B'. Greenhead Park have been on a good run of form but this week they lost to leaders, the Rugby Club, by 3-6 and they have now been caught by Dalton who beat Broad Oak 'B' 7-2.
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