Veterans 10-Man League
Preview of matches to be played on Tuesday 7 September
Elland C&BC 'A' will be looking to narrow the 7-point gap between themselves and the Section 1 leaders, Lockwood Con 'A' when they host relegation-threatened Netherton Con 'A' this week. With the leaders away at sixth-placed Cowcliffe it may provide an opening to reignite the title hopes of the Elland side. The teams placed 3rd and 4th meet up at Waterloo where Golcar Lib 'A' are the visitors and they could both damage each other's challenge for honours although the Waterloo home win record of 10-1 is not bettered by any other team so may give them the upper hand. With Netherton Con 'A' engaged at Elland that presents an opportunity for Meltham 'A' to extend the current one-point difference between the two teams trying to stay away from the second relegation spot. This week they have to travel to play Marsh United 'A' who have lost their last 4 fixtures although Meltham themselves are in a bad run with just one win in their last 9 matches.
The Kirkheaton derby match has come at a bad time for the Cricket Club with just one win in their last 13 matches and 13 points adrift of safety from relegation from Section 2 against the leaders who have a 27-point lead at the top. The pack chasing them include 2nd-placed Lindley BC 'A' and 4th-placed Milnsbridge 'A' who meet this Tuesday but they will be looking at the New Mill 'A' result away at Hemplow 'A' as their 10 match winning run has elevated them as strong contenders for the second promotion place. Thorpe Green and Broad Oak 'A' could push themselves back into contention with winnable home games this week. Thorpe Green entertain a Bradley & Colne side still looking for their first away win of the season and Broad Oak 'A' host a lowly, but safe, Brockholes 'A' team.
With the top two teams meeting this week along with the bottom two also going head-to-head there is strong interest at both ends of the Section 3 table. Just three points between the top three teams and leaders Slaithwaite host their nearest rivals Golcar Lib 'B' who have won their last 6 matches. Lowerhouses could be the main beneficiary of any close scoring in the top two match as they defend the Section 3 only unbeaten home record against visitors from Skel Windmill. It increasingly looks like it is any two from three for relegation and the bottom two meeting this week could be pivotal in sorting that out. Brockholes 'B' have lost their last 5 fixtures and are one point behind Outlane who they entertain this week. Meltham 'B' are also in the mix and are trying to avoid a second consecutive relegation but have to travel to play Holmfirth 'A' who have only lost one home match all season.
There is also a top two encounter this week in Section 4 as the leaders Huddersfield Recreation Club have a visit from a Denby Dale side who have won their last 7 league matches, lost only once all season, are just one point behind them in the table and have a game in hand. But the Recreation Club are defending an unbeaten home record to set up a balanced fixture which neither team can afford to lose heavily. Not that a defat would damage either of the team's promotion hopes as they have a 20-point lead over 3rd placed Lindley BC 'B' who lost at bottom of the table Kirkheaton Con 'B' in their Friday catch-up fixture last week. Kirkheaton Con 'B' can smell the hint of a revival having won 3 of their last 5 matches but still remain at the foot of the table but with a home match this week against a Ravensknowle Park team that has logged a single away win all season. That was against Netherton Con 'B' who occupy the second relegation place at present and have 3rd from bottom Thongsbridge 'B' as visitors this week. The Netherton team really need to win that match to protect the escape route of both of the bottom two teams.
The leading four teams in Section 5 all have home matches this week so we can probably expect little to change in the running order, not that the two leaders will be unduly worried about that with an 18-point cushion protecting their promotion aims. With one-point separating leaders New Mill 'B' from the Rugby Club they are more focused on each other but they may have to wait until the final day of the season when they go head-to-head to determine the destination of the Section 5 title. Similarly, the bottom four teams are all away from home this week which should lead to low scoring and little expectation of any major movements in the lower regions.
THE BOWLSNET PAGES OF THE VETERANS 10-MAN LEAGUE
Comments