5-Man Bradley team hits rock bottom

Veterans League

Review of the 10-Man League fixtures played on 6 June

Division 2 side Bradley & Colne could only field five bowlers for their match away at Almondbury BC 'A' this week and unsurprisingly lost 0-9 and drop to the foot of the league table as a result. I understand that holidays and illness are major contributors to the present difficulties but there are clearly some team-raising problems within the club at present as this is the fourth time in their last five league matches that they have failed to field a full team of ten. Two of those matches saw them one man short and the third time they were two short.

The match against Almondbury BC 'A' was a new low not only for Bradley & Colne but for the League as well as I cannot recall any match going ahead before with only half a team fulfilling the fixture.

This Thursday they play in the Bistro KO against the same Almondbury BC 'A' team after fielding a full team in the previous round, let us hope that things soon improve for the club.

Netherton Con 'A' missed an opportunity to build on their big win over the table leaders, Lindley Lib 'A' of the previous week when going down 2-7 at Thorpe Green this week. That played in to Lindley Lib's hands as they had a 6-3 home win over New Mill 'A' to reassert themselves at the top of the table and now have a 7-points lead over the other contenders.

Shepley will count themselves as one of those after a 6-3 away win at Holmfirth 'A' put them right in the picture and with a match in hand over the top two. Lindley BC 'A' also feature in any serious discussions about title aspirations and their 5-4 away win at Thongsbridge 'A' makes it 5 wins on the trot which keeps them well in contention. It might be a good time to play Bradley & Colne which they do next week.

Three very close aggregate scorelines from Division 1 this week with the leaders, Golcar Lib 'A' drawing the aggregate 122-122 at Lowerhouses this week but that was sufficient for them to edge the match result 5-4. Two more 5-4 scorelines as Meltham lost at home to Clayton West (124-125 aggregates) which makes it a run of four straight defeats for the Meltham team. Marsh United 'A' lost for a third consecutive match when going down at home to Elland C&BC and again a very close aggregate scores of 125-126 saw the visitors come through to take the points 5-4.

In contrast to recent results Lockwood Con 'A' beat Rastrick 8-1 who drop from 3rd to 5th whilst the Lockwood team jump up two places to 7th. Waterloo jump from 5th to 3rd after a 7-2 home win over Longwood whilst Cowcliffe are now out on their own in second place after an 8-1 away win over bottom of the table Milnsbridge 'A'.