Big win for Clayton West to go top

Veterans League

Review of the matches played in the Veterans 6-Man League on Monday 5 May

There is a new leader in the Division 1 title race as Clayton West go clear after a 7-0 home win over Netherton Con A. That was quite a statement victory as the Netherton side sat in 3rd place at the start of play and that win saw them swap places with the previous leaders Shepley A who drop to 5th place. That came about as the Shepley team lost 1-6 away at reigning Champions Marsh United A who go third as a result. Although the Clayton side have a 2-points lead no one expects that lead to hold good for too long as there are only 5 points between the top six teams and more changes are inevitable as the season progresses.

Skel Windmill A and Waterloo held 2nd and 4th positions prior to meeting each other on Monday and a 4-3 home win for the home team, Skel Windmill A, saw them both retain their positions in the updated table. That scoreline came about after the two bonus points for the better aggregate total were shared after a 78-78 score.

Thongsbridge A deposed Netherton Con A of their top half position after they were also involved in another 4-3 result with another drawn aggregate (88-88) with Milnsbridge A who remain 8th despite that defeat. A third 4-3 scoreline in Monday's fixture list shows how tight things are this season in the top division although this did not involve a third aggregate draw as Slaithwaite edged the aggregates 90-85 against Golcar C&BC but that didn't ease their relegation fears as they drop from 9th to 10th despite the win. That was because of New Mill A clocking up their first win of the season with an impressive 7-0 home win over Brockholes A and moving up three places as a result.

Very different outcomes for the top two teams in Division 2 this week who both had home matches to cement their lead at the top. Whilst the leaders Holmfirth A beat 4th-placed Lindley Lib A 5-2 there was a real shock for Marsh Lib A who went down 2-5 to bottom-of-the-table Longwood but just hang on to 2nd place for now. That was a first win of the season for the Longwood team and lifted them up a place and surely provided an indicator of better times ahead.

Brockholes B move into 3rd place after a 7-0 home over Thongsbridge B who drop to last place a point behind Longwood and Paddock I&C who are now the only team in the table searching for a first win after going down 1-6 at home to Golcar Lib. The Golcar team join a group of 6 teams separated by 3 points behind the leaders and with a game in hand of all the teams above them, look handily placed to improve their position sometime soon.

Lockwood Con completed Monday's programme with a 5-2 home win over Crosland Moor who are perilously close to the drop zone as a result of that defeat.

Almondbury Lib continue to storm away at the top of the Division 3 table but were pushed all the way by Denby Dale on Monday before settling for a 4-3 scoreline and a 4th straight win and now have a six points lead over Marsh Lib B in second place. They needed a better aggregate score (81-72) to clinch the win but are certainly the team impressing most at the present.

Marsh Lib B had a setback to their promotion bid when going down 2-5 to a revitalised Milnsbridge B team who move into the top half of the table and lead a group of three teams on 13 points. Primrose Hill Lib moved closer to the promotion places after a good 6-1 home win over a Greenhead Park A team who lost for the first time this term.

Holmfirth B doubled their points tally to six after claiming 3 points when going down away at Lindley Lib B and move above their opponents and out of the relegation places as a result. It took a drawn (86-86) aggregate scoreline to produce that outcome in a close encounter. A 5-2 away win for Linthwaite Hall saw them overtake their Monday opponents, Elland C&BC, in the table to go 7th and more importantly, 7 points ahead of the relegation places. They also retained their bogey team hold over the Elland C&BC side after completing a League double over them last season, when both teams were relegated and are now half-way to doing the same again this season.

Netherton Con B take over at the top of the Division 4 table for now although previous leaders, Hemplow B, have to wait until Friday to play at Thongsbridge C when things may change again. They go top after a regulation 6-1 home win over Clayton West B who stay bottom and having already lost to the two teams immediately above them in the table the portents are not good. Skel Windmill B are one of those two teams and a good 4-3 away was a first home defeat on their new home green for Greenhead Park B.

Things are very congested in the places above Clayton West B with only 4 points separating the next 9 teams with Shepley B and Marsh United B being two of those teams and their meeting on Monday resulted in a 5-2 home win for Shepley B.