Are Division 3 leaders running out of steam?

Veterans League

Preview of the Tuesday fixtures in Divisions 3, 4 & 5 of the Veterans 10-Man League

Are the Division 3 leaders, Almondbury Lib, getting a touch of the jitters? They have lost 2 of their last 3 fixtures and seen their lead drop to just 7 points ahead of Brockholes A and Linthwaite Hall. This Tuesday they are away to an improving Springwood team who have only lost once in their last five matches and that was away to Brockholes A.

The two prime rivals to the leaders both have away fixtures this week but to bottom-four opponents. Brockholes A have won their last three matches and are at Slaithwaite who have lost their last three matches and have won less matches than any of the three teams below them in the table. Linthwaite Hall are level on points with Brockholes A and go to play Thorpe Green this week who have won 6 of their 7 home matches this season.

The two teams currently in the relegation places both have away matches this Tuesday with Marsh Lib A at Hemplow A and Lockwood Con B at Paddock I&C. With only a third of the season still to go they must start picking up points away from home to revive hopes of escaping the drop.

How are Skel Windmill likely to respond to losing their first Division 4 match of the season when going down to the Rugby Club who now sit in third place? This week they have a home fixture against their other main rival, Marsh United B. Both of those teams sit on 76 points as do 4th placed Kirkheaton C&BC A, which is 24 points behind the leaders so there is no real immediate threat to the title-chasers. Don't dismiss Milnsbridge B either as they are just one point behind that pack of three and all four have valid visions of promotion.

Two of that group of four go head-to-head as Kirkheaton C&BC A, who have played a match less than any of the teams above them, host Huddersfield RUBC whilst Milnsbridge B have a home fixture against Meltham B who have won 3 out of their last 4 matches. Kirkheaton C&BC A and Huddersfield Recreation Club both play two matches on Tuesday with the one between these two teams starting at 10.30am on the Moldgreen Con green.

Big meeting at the foot of the table as the bottom two face each other at the Crosland Moor green where David Brown Sports host Netherton Con B. They are both in real danger of returning to the Division which they dominated last year when they both won the home games against each other. That sequence continued this season when David Brown Sports won the May encounter but only just 5-4 (123-121). The Netherton team are desperate for the points and a defeat would stretch the 8-points gap there is currently between the teams.

The bottom two teams have a game in hand over all the other teams in Division 5 and they play that catch-up fixture on Thursday. Before then, they both have difficult fixtures against top-three opponents on Tuesday. Brockholes B have home advantage over Kirkheaton C&BC B and Hemplow B will be keen to pick up enough points at Marsh Lib B to narrow the gap to the second promotion place.

Kirkheaton Con B fresh from qualifying for the Sub-Team KO Final (as are Kirkheaton C&BC B) have to go to Almondbury BC B who have lost their last three league fixtures, two of them at home. The Kirkheaton Con boys have won 4 of their last 5 fixtures and will be keen to hold on to top spot.