A good day for the leaders

Veterans League

Review of the 6-Man League matches played in Divisions 3, 4 & 5 on Tuesday 11 July

Earlier in the week we highlighted the opportunity open to the Division 3 leaders, Golcar Lib 'B', of forcing a wedge between themselves and the next four teams who all faced an away fixture whilst the leaders were at home to 4th-placed Paddock I&C. Well the Golcar boys fulfilled their obligation by winning 8-1 but haven't shaken off Almondbury Lib who had a very good 6-3 away win at Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' which ended a 5-match winning run for the Cricket Club.

Denby Dale did the best of the rest with a 7-2 away win at Slaithwaite but the top two have opened up an increasing gap which may prove difficult to claw back based on current form. A good 7-2 home win for Huddersfield Recreation Club over Brockholes 'A' being a big setback for the Badger's hopes of staying in contention at the top end with the gap to the leaders now 13-points an increase of 6 in a week.

That win for the Recreation Club eased their plight of being too near the relegation places as the bottom two teams fought out a 6-3 home win for Meltham 'B' over Lockwood Con 'B'. However other results means that the gap to safety has now been extended to 10 points as teams pass the halfway point of the season. Outlane's 6-3 home win over Skel Windmill brought them level with their opponents and distanced themselves a little further away from the relegation trauma.

Before this week's fixtures in Division 4 the top 5 teams were separated by 6 points. That has changed to an 11 point spread across the same 5 teams. Lindley Lib 'B' continue to set the pace after a 6-3 home win over top 5 rivals Marsh Lib and Springwood also benefitted from a 6-3 home win over Lindley BC 'B' whilst Marsh United 'B' had a bye week.

A 1-8 away defeat for Thongsbridge 'B' at Ravensknowle Park seriously damaged any aspirations of promotion. The Park's win did nothing for their relegation peril as the bottom three teams all won with Kirkheaton Con 'B' beating Almondbury BC 'B' 5-4 and Primrose Hill Lib having a first win in 6 matches with a 7-2 home win over the Rugby Club.

A really good day for top of the Division 5 table Milnsbridge 'B' as they doubled their lead from 5 to 10 points after two significant results. They set things up with a 7-2 away win over 3rd-placed Netherton Con 'B' which ended their 5-match winning run and then saw 2nd-placed Greenhead Park go down 2-7 at New Mill 'B'.

That result has also had implications in the contest for the second promotion place as there are now four teams within 2 points of Greenhead Park. Home wins for Brockholes 'B', Broad Oak 'B' and David Brown Sports has sucked Greenhead Park and Netherton Con'B' back into a separate competition to see who is going up with Milnsbridge.