9/9 Skel Windmill go 15 points clear

Veterans League

Review of the results in Divisions 3, 4 & 5 of the 10-Man League matches played on 24 June

Tuesday was a good day for the Division 3 leaders, Almondbury Lib, as they won their home match against Thorpe Green and saw their two closest rivals both lose. One of those defeats being a big surprise as 2nd placed Holmfirth A went down at home to mid-table Linthwaite Hall by 4-5. Linthwaite are one of two in-form teams in the Division and along with Springwood have won their last three matches.

Hemplow A's 3-6 loss away at bottom-of-the-table Lockwood Con B saw the winners move off the foot of the table. That defeat for the Holmfirth team left them 4-points off the top of the table after starting the day just one point from leading the way.

Paddock I&C now occupy the bottom spot after a 3-6 away defeat at Springwood but are only one point behind the two teams above them. Also within range is Marsh Lib A who took a 1-8 hammering at Brockholes A and with a fixture against the leaders, Almondbury Lib, for next week things are not looking too good for them in the short term.

Slaithwaite are gradually lifting themselves out of the lower regions of the table and despite losing away at Lindley Lib B did collect three points to keep out of the immediate range of the teams in the relegation places but that can soon alter.

It was also a good day for the Divison 4 runaway leaders, Skel Windmill, as they extended their 100% win record to a 9th successive match by beating their nearest rivals for the title, Kirkheaton C&BC A by 7-2. That opened their lead to a massive 15 points and we haven't reached the halfway point of the season yet.

That result allowed Marsh United B to claim 2nd place despite losing 3-6 at home and also having won only one of their last five fixtures. That home defeat to lowly Meltham B will have hurt their promotion hopes as the chasing pack of four teams behind the leaders but only separated by 2 points between themselves. Surely one of those teams has to start a push for the second promotion place.

Milnsbridge B could be in contention for such a role after winning 3 of their last 4 fixtures and a 6-3 away win over Primrose Hill Lib has done their chances no harm at all. The Meltham B team is the Division's form team having won their last three matches but are 9 points off the second promotion place at present. Thongsbridge B are also handily placed after an 8-1 home win over David Brown Sports who are in reverse after a promising start to their season but they now find themselves one place above the relegation places having lost their last three matches.

The Rugby Club could also force themselves into promotion contention after a 6-3 home win over Ravensknowle Park closed the gap on most of the teams above them but having won only 2 of their last 6 matches, consistency is a problem for them as it is with most teams in this division.

Kirkheaton Con B lost a Division 5 match for the second time this season but hang on to top place. A 3-6 defeat at Dalton is a setback to their title hopes but that result pushed the Dalton team well into contention for a promotion place. Brockholes B remain the main threat to the leaders after a 6-3 away victory over Marsh Lib meant that they stay second whilst the expected threat from Hemplow B fizzled out after needing the best aggregate bonus points to squeeze past lowly Holmfirth B by 5-4.

Lindley BC B remain in the hunt for honours although a 6-3 home win over bottom-of-the-table New Mill B will not send out shock waves to the four teams above them in the table. Greenhead Park had the biggest win in Division 5 this week with an 8-1 home win over Broad Oak B and passed their opponents in the table to go 6th.

Almondbury BC B vacated bottom place after a welcome first win in five away at Kirkheaton C&BC B and are now only one point below the three teams immediately above them in the table.