Almondbury Lib on verge of title

Veterans League

Preview of the 10-Man League Divisions 3,4&5 fixtures for Tuesday 16 September

Two points from their final two matches of the season will secure the Division 3 title for Almondbury Lib. Alternatively they have to lose both of their final matches 0-9 and Springwood and Hemplow A both have to win both their final two fixtures by 9-0 to deprive them. However as Springwood and Hemplow A play each other this Monday that is an impossible outcome so Almondbury Lib are already promoted. It is only a matter of time before Monday's results confirm their title win as well.

Only two points separate the next four teams and with only one more promotion place to be won, things are hotting up at the top end of the table. Brockholes A and Linthwaite Hall hold 4th and 5th places but are just two points behind 2nd and 3rd. However they both have away matches this week against mid-table Holmfirth A and bottom-of-the-table Lockwood Con B. With Springwood (2nd) hosting Hemplow A (3rd) it leaves them as favourites to hang on to 2nd place going into the last week of the season. Should Holmfirth A beat Brockholes A tomorrow then they would force themselves back into the reckoning as well. Tense stuff indeed!!

Realistically there are only three teams in the frame for the relegation places and one of those, Lockwood Con B, look totally doomed. Already 15 points away from safety and that is a moving target they are unlikely to meet. Marsh Lib A have a chance, albeit a slim one, as they have to play the top two teams in the table in their final two fixtures and probably need to win both to have any chance of catching Paddock I&C who are 7 points ahead of them. The Paddock side may not even need to win either of their final matches at home to Slaithwaite and away to Thorpe Green to escape the drop.

The three bottom teams in Division 4 all have home matches on Tuesday but that is unlikely to help Netherton Con B to escape relegation. They are 17 points adrift of safety with two matches left to play and need a total collapse by Primrose Hill Lib and David Brown Sports and even that would require Netherton Con to win their match against Meltham B by 9-0 to raise hopes of a 'great escape'. Ironically the three teams fighting for survival all came up together from Division 5 last season. Two of them genuine promotion winners and Primrose Hill Lib due to a reorganisation of the divisions. Two of them are going straight back down.

At the top of the table Skel Windmill have already been declared the division Champions and will likely be joined in Division 3 next season by Kirkheaton C&BC A. They hold an 8 points lead over third-placed Milnsbridge B and play away at David Brown Sports on Tuesday. With Milnsbridge B also playing away this week but this time at Champions Skel Windmill the money is on the Kirkheaton Cricket Club securing that second promotion place and that could happen tomorrow.

Three teams chasing two promotion places at the top of Division 5 and two of those teams clash this Tuesday as the leaders, Kirkheaton Con B, travel to play third-placed Hemplow B. A win would secure promotion for the Yetton Boys. Second-placed Brockholes B have the easiest run-in of the three contenders with matches to come at home to New Mill B and finally away to Holmfirth B.

That match will not help Holmfirth B avoid the wooden spoon for finishing bottom of the bottom division and Almondbury BC B and Greenhead Park will be hoping that the final day meeting of the two teams will not be critical in finalising positions.