Veterans League
Review of the Divisions 3, 4 & 5 results for Tuesday 9 May
A bad day for all of the leaders in Divisions 3, 4 and 5 but it was Denby Dale (Division 3) and Springwood (Division 4) that had the biggest setbacks with surprise defeats although both managed to hold on to top spots in their respective divisions. Even though Division 5 leaders, Broad Oak 'B' didn't play they still had a bad day being overtaken by three of their rivals for the title.
A very bad day for the Division 3 leaders, Denby Dale, as they went down 1-8 away at Paddock I&C as the top three teams all stuttered this week. The notoriously difficult green at Paddock halted Denby Dale's tremendous start to the season and Paddock became the first team to beat them this year although they hang on to top spot as the other leading teams also struggled. Second-placed Almondbury Lib also lost but this time at home to Slaithwaite who showed what a force they can be when they can field a full team.
That defeat sent the Lib down two places to fourth as the top five teams concocted a real jam with just three points between them. Brockholes 'A' started the day with an unbeaten record in third place and with the help of a better aggregate sneaked a 5-4 home win over Golcar Lib 'B' to go second with the division's only unbeaten record. That four points kept the Golcar side very much in involved in the promotion battle although they drop a place to 5th but closed the gap on the leaders to 3 points.
Things are starting to look ominous for Meltham 'B' who are now nine points adrift at the foot of the table and lost for the fifth successive time this week when going down 1-8 at Outlane. Both teams were promoted from Division 4 last season but it is the runners-up who have settled better at this level to date. That gap at the bottom being established due not only to Meltham's defeat but also because of Kirkheaton C&BC's first win of the season when they took the points 5-4 away at Huddersfield Recreation Club. Lockwood Con 'B' dropped down a division from last season and their problems haven't eased at all as they haven't won since the opening day of the season with the a fourth consecutive defeat, this time 3-6 at Skel Windmill.
Top teams seem to be real targets as Division 4 leaders Springwood went down at bottom-of-the-table Primrose Hill Lib 3-6. They hang on to top spot with a better 'Aggregate For' total than Lindley Lib 'B' who had a great 8-1 away win at third-placed Kirkheaton Con 'B' who slip four places to 7th as a result.
Thongsbridge 'B' and the RUBC are locked together on 24 points, three points behind the top two, after both picked up solid home wins this week. The Thongsbridge side beat bottom-of-the-table Marsh United 'B' 7-2 although those 2 points lifted the Marsh side up a place above non-playing Lindley BC 'B'. The Rugby Club beat Ravensknowle Park 6-3 and although they are level on points with the Thongsbridge there is a 99 points 'Aggregate For 'difference between the two teams. Marsh Lib swap places with Almondbury BC 'B' after beating them on their own turf by 5-4 with the aggregate playing a major part in that scoreline but both teams remain mid-table.
The Division 5 leaders, Broad Oak 'B' were without a match this week but still had a bad day as they four places as a result allowing Milnsbridge 'B' to take over at the top after a 7-2 home win over Hemplow 'B'. Milnsbridge and Broad Oak have the division's only unbeaten league records. Brockholes 'B' clocked up their 4th victory of the season when a better aggregate score enabled them to overcome the home team from Greenhead Park and run out 5-4 winners. They remain third but have narrowed the gap to the leaders to 3 points from the previous five.
Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' recorded their first win of the season when beating bottom team Holmfirth 'B' 6-3 which saw them condemn New Mill 'B' to a bottom-two position after they went down 1-8 at David Brown Sports. The DBSports team are on the up with a second consecutive 8-1 home win and they sit comfortably in second place one point behind the leaders. A 6-3 home win for Dalton over Netherton Con 'B' still left them floundering in 5th position and still 8 points below the leaders.