All four division leaders win their Monday games

Veterans League

Review of the Monday fixtures in the Veterans 6-Man League

The top two teams in Division 1 both had big home wins to cement their lead over the chasing pack. That pack must be getting down-hearted at the lack of opportunities to pull the two leaders back into range. This week a 7-0 win for Marsh United A over pack member pack Slaithwaite enabled them to pull the leaders one-point nearer after they dropped a point to third-placed Broad Oak A but the gap between the two teams is now 18 points with only 7 fixtures still to be played.

The dreaded lines time added to the table to identify the teams in the relegation places will soon be upon us and Skel Windmill A look odds-on to be below that line as they are currently 11 points from safety after a 0-7 away defeat at Milnsbridge A. Thongsbridge A are making a good effort to raise their game with a fifth successive home win to raise their hopes of avoiding the drop. A 5-2 win over Netherton Con A will have raised their hopes and they now have safety within their grasp.

Lindley Lib A are the team most in danger of being overtaken after a 3-4 home defeat to Waterloo put them just two points from the drop zone. Golcar C&BC are also in danger of getting sucked into the relegation battle after a 1-6 away defeat at an improving Shepley A team who made that three wins on the bounce.

The Division 2 leaders, New Mill A, had a good 5-2 away win over Golcar Lib A but they can't shake off Brockholes A who had a 7-0 home win over Paddock I&C who remain firmly in the range of the bottom two teams as a result. Brockholes B don't appear to be a threat to any of the teams above them after a 7th consecutive defeat left them adrift at the foot of the table, this time 2-5 away to Denby Dale who move out of the bottom two as a result.

A 0-7 away defeat for Milnsbridge B at Marsh Lib A resulted in them dropping into the second relegation place. Longwood's six-match winning run came to an end at Holmfirth A by 2-5 and Lockwood Con look safe in mid-table after a 6-1 home win over Almondbury Lib.

The top five teams in Division 3 all won their Monday matches so the race goes on to find the team that will be promoted along with Thongsbridge B. The leaders won away 5-2 at Broad Oak B whilst Hemplow A take over second place after a 6-1 home win over Lindley Lib B but are only second on the Aggregate For totals over Golcar Lib B who won 5-2 away to Linthwaite Hall. Crosland Moor and Clayton West B both remain in range of striking a bid for that second promotion place after both won again this week. Golcar Lib B are even closer after a 7th consecutive win saw them move to within four points of the promotion target total.

At the opposite end of the table there are only two points between the bottom three teams who all suffered 1-6 defeats on Monday as did fourth from bottom Lindley Lib B although they have a 7 point cushion over the bottom three.

A 7-0 home win for Meltham saw them retain the second Division 4 promotion place with the team on the wrong end of that scoreline, Brockholes D, now even further adrift at the foot of the table. Third-placed Hemplow B struggled to get past Skel Windmill B needing a share of the aggregate totals at 86-86 to edge the points total 4-3. No team in the bottom half of the table won their Monday matches.

Netherton Con B scored a 13th consecutive win and seem set for a run to claim the title in due course. Of the rest, Holmfirth have lost their last four matches, whereas Hemplow B have won their last four fixtures.