Bottom beats top to get first win of the season

Veterans League

Review of the Veterans 6-Man League results from Monday 10 July

We dive into Division 3 to start this week's results review which includes a bottom team win over the table leader. What makes it all the more remarkable is that this was the first win of the season for the underdog at the 11th time of asking. Bottom of the table Shepley 'B' beat the leaders from Marsh Lib 4-3 with a drawn aggregate of 85-85 contributing to that total. It wasn't enough to lift the buoyant Shepley team off the bottom but it could provide the lift that starts a revival.

All five home teams won their matches in Division 3 this week but the other four all went with the formbook. That blemish on Marsh Lib's record allowed Marsh United 'B' and Thongsbridge 'B' to creep up one point behind them after they beat respectively Brockholes 'B' 6-1 and Holmfirth 'B' 6-1. Hemplow completed the winning home team record by beating Primrose Hill Lib and passing them in the table to add insult to injury.

Even more surprises in Division 1 where the top two teams both lost away matches by the same 3-4 scoreline. Marsh United 'A' retain their 9-point cushion at the top despite losing at lowly Milnsbridge 'A' but Shepley 'A' surrendered second place after losing at relegation-threatened Crosland Moor. Skel Windmill took full advantage of those blips by winning 5-2 at Brockholes 'A' to sit in the leader's slipstream poised for more action in pursuit of a first-ever Championship title.

Golcar C&BC also took closer order on the top three with a good 5-2 away win at Longwood who drop into the relegation places as a result.

Netherton Con continued their spiral down the table with a 5th straight defeat this time at home to Thongsbridge 'A' and Elland C&BC are still looking for their first win of the season after losing for the 11th time going down 2-5 to Lockwood Con. After Shepley 'B's win it leaves the Elland outfit as the only 6-Man League side still looking for a first win of the season.

The two Lindley Lib teams retain 2nd and 3rd places in Division 2 after the 'A' team beat their club colleagues 5-2 so failed to pull any ground back on Slaithwaite who also won 5-2, this time to Golcar Lib. Linthwaite Hall had a good away win at Clayton West and although they remain in the relegation places another couple of results like that will make some other strugglers a little more nervous. Denby Dale and Almondbury are fast becoming in range and both tasted defeat this week which hasn't helped their cases at all. Skel Windmill 'B' extended their losing run into double figures but there are at least three other teams still within their radar who can be overtaken with any sort of run of good results.