Almondbury Lib falter as pack closes in

Veterans League

Review of the 10-Man League results in Divisions 3,4&5 as played on Tuesday 12 August

With all six home teams in Division 3 winning their Tuesday fixtures that signalled another bad day for the leaders, Almondbury Lib, as they lose for a 3rd time in their last 4 fixtures this time going down 3-6 at Springwood. That result pushed the Springwood team up into the second promotion place and only 6 points behind the leaders. In fact there is now a pack of four teams within striking distance of the long-time Division leaders with Linthwaite Hall and Hemplow A both placed a point behind Springwood. Brockholes A also feature strongly and are only 2 points off the second promotion spot as all four teams have Almondbury Lib within striking range.

It could have been worse as Linthwaite Hall and Brockholes A both lost their Tuesday fixtures allowing Springwood to jump two places to second and the immediate in-form threat to the leaders. The only redeeming feature of the current situation for the Almondbury Lib team is that they only have one of their four major rivals left to play this season and that is a home match against Hemplow A.

A bad day for the bottom two as they both lost with Marsh Lib A going down 2-7 at Hemplow A and Lockwood Con B having a worse time at Paddock I&C when losing 1-8. It gets worse for them both as the three teams immediately above them all won their Tuesday fixtures to move away from the relegation places. As well as Paddock I&C winning there were home victories for Thorpe Green and Slaithwaite against Linthwaite Hall and Brockholes A respectively.

Division 4 leaders Skel Windmill returned to winning ways after their first defeat of the season last week to overwhelm the team in 2nd place Marsh United B by 7-2. That result saw the losers drop two places to 4th with Kirkheaton C&BC A and Milnsbridge B overtaking them.

Huddersfield RUBC may have ended Skel Windmill's 100% winning run at 14 matches but they were no match one week later against Kirkheaton C&BC A who beat them 1-8 to go 2nd in the table. Milnsbridge B also moved up two places to third following an 8-1 home win over Meltham B.

The bottom two teams faced each other with David Brown Sports coming out on top with a 5-4 home win over Netherton Con B who remain bottom as a result. That outcome lifted David Brown Sports out of the relegation places leaving Primrose Hill Lib occupying that spot after going down 1-8 at Thongsbridge B.

It is Brockholes B team's turn to take the Division 5 top spot replacing Kirkheaton Con B after a 9-0 home win over bottom team Kirkheaton C&BC B. The Kirkheaton team remain firmly in contention after a 6-3 away win at Almondbury BC B as do Hemplow B who won by the same scoreline at Marsh Lib B.

None of the 6 teams in the bottom half of the table won their Tuesday matches and the running order remains untouched as a result.