All roads lead to Lindley this Tuesday

Veterans League A preview of the 10-Man League matches to be played on Tuesday 26 April

The Division 1 focus will be centred on Lindley this Tuesday as the top two teams in the table are both playing at Lindley greens. Leaders Kirkheaton Con 'A' are at Lindley Lib to take on their club's 'A' team whilst second placed Marsh United 'A' are 300 yards down the road at Lindley BC 'A'.

The two teams are locked together on 21 points and they have a 6-point lead over Waterloo who have a bye this week so that leaves the teams in 4th and 5th position 7-points adrfit and facing each other this week at Golcar Lib 'A' where Cowcliffe are the visitors.

After two opening defeats Lockwood Con 'A' will be looking to kick-start the defence of their title with a home win over Meltham 'A' but they are 3-points adrift at present and the two teams immediately above them, Elland C&BC 'A' and Clayton West both have home games as well. That calibre of teams below them in the table will make Meltham nervous about this week's outcome and possibly Longwood as well who are the visiting team at Elland C&BC.

Division 2 leaders Milnsbridge 'A' take their unbeaten record to Shepley which will be their stiffest test to date although a 1-8 setback at Netherton Con 'A' will not have filled the Shepley team with any confidence about holding down 3rd position in the short term. Along with Milnsbridge, Hemplow 'A' have the only other unbeaten record in the division and they will be confident of extending that with a home fixture against Thongsbridge 'A' who have had a slow start to the season but did clock up a first win of the season last week with a 7-2 home win over Broad Oak 'A' which was their first defeat of the season.

Much-fancied New Mill 'A' have also started the campaign slowly losing two of their matches to heavy away defeats so will be more comfortable on their own green and will need to be against a Netherton Con 'A' side that is showing signs of settling at this level. It is surprising to see Slaithwaite and Thorpe Green in the lower half of the table but with both having home matches this week that may change. Promoted Slaithwaite entertain an improving Almondbury BC 'A' side who are already well positioned in the table whilst Thorpe Green host a Bradley & Colne team which has surprisingly lost both of their home matches this season but win their solitary away fixture. That being a complete reversal of last season's experience when they lost all 13 away league matches.

Bottom of the table Brockholes 'A' had an encouraging 5-4 home win last week when inflicting a first defeat of the season on Lowerhouses and will need to be on top form away to Broad Oak 'A' this week if they are to pick up many points. Lowerhouses will be looking to bounce back from that first defeat when hosting Lockwood Con 'B' who are still looking for a first win of the season.

The teams in 2nd and 4th position in the Division 3 table meet up this week as relegated but undefeated Paddock I&C take on promoted Denby Dale. Linthwaite Hall and Holmfirth 'A' also have unbeaten records to date and both have home matches this Tuesday. Leaders Linthwaite Hall have Golcar Lib 'B' as visitors whilst third-placed Holmfirth 'A' also have mid-table guests when Lindley Lib 'B' come to call.

Three teams in this division are still waiting for their first wins of the season and at least one of those three will taste victory this week when Marsh United 'B' have Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' as visitors. The Springwood v Skel Windmill fixture completes a bottom four private tussle with Almondbury Lib against Huddersfield Recreation Club completing the Tuesday picture.

It is a top half v bottom half fixture programme in Division 4 this week as the top 6 teams are all away at bottom half opponents. Only 2 of those 6 bottom half teams have won at home this season and they are Milnsbridge 'B' and the Rugby Club. The Rugby Club host leaders Ravensknowle Park so that could liven things up near the top of the table whilst Milnsbridge 'B' have New Mill 'B' as visitors who won their only other away match to date when inflicting defeat on Almondbury BC 'B'.

The top three teams in Division 5 are separated by 2 points and all have away matches this week with 3rd placed Dalton having the hardest encounter away at 4th placed Marsh Lib. Both have won their two matches to date and this is the first home match for Marsh Lib an advantage which could prove decisive. The leaders Greenhead Park have to play on the postage stamp green at Kirkheaton Con 'B' whilst Broad Oak 'B' who are level on points with the leaders are at Netherton Con 'B'

It could be a bad week for second from bottom Hemplow 'B' who don't have a match this week but the teams either side of them meet at Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' where Holmfirth 'B' are the visitors. Three points for the home team would result in Hemplow taking over that bottom position on equal games played.

The weather forecast indicates that it isn't going to rain on matchday (when have they ever been wrong?) so enjoy your bowling.