League News
A second successive Section 1 defeat for reigning Champions Lockwood Con 'A' as they go down 4-5 at home to third-placed Cowcliffe Liberal who move closer to the top two as a result. That is the Cons first home defeat since July 2019 when they lost by the same scoreline to Rastrick. This defeat followed last week's 1-8 reversal at Marsh United to make it two-in-a-row which hasn't happened since April 2017 and beware as that two-game-losing-run back then was stretched to a third successive league match defeat. However they were not alone in tasting a surprise defeat as second-placed Elland C&BC 'A' also lost by the same 4- 5 scoreline when visiting struggling Netherton Con. Not a favourite venue for the Calderdale club as they lost 3-6 there last season (2019). After beating Lockwood Con 'A' twice in 7 days (8-1 in the League and once in the Bistro) Marsh United returned to earth with a 3-6 loss at lowly Meltham 'A'. On a day when there were 6 home winners in Section 1 with Lindley Lib 'A', Longwood, Waterloo and Rastrick joining Netherton Con and Meltham 'A' in the winner's enclosure.
Kirkheaton Con 'A' won the Section 2 Kirkheaton derby encounter in fine style with a 9-0 whitewash win over their neighbours from the cricket field. That enabled them to narrow the gap on the two leaders who both won away from home with Thorpe Green maintaining their 100% win record by the narrowest margin 5-4 at Bradley & Colne and Lindley BC 'A won at Milnsbridge 'A'. Broad Oak lost ground and dropped to fourth when losing 4-5 at Brockholes 'A' despite winning the aggregate 126-125. Paddock remain rooted to the bottom despite a great 8-1 home win over Lockwood Con 'B' which puts them level on 22 points with their opponents and Hemplow 'A' who had a good away win at New Mill 'A'. An 8-1 home win for Almondbury BC 'A' saw them leapfrog their Shepley opponents in the league table.
It was a good day for Section 3 leaders Holmfirth 'A' for as well as winning 8-1 away at Meltham 'B' they saw their two nearest challengers, Lowerhouses and Golcar Lib 'B', losing their matches and the lead increased to 9 points. Skel Windmill and Slaithwaite being the two victors which highlighted the threat that both now bring and are within overtaking distance now. A good 5-4 home win for Outlane over Brockholes 'B' pushed them out of the relegation places but with only 5 points separating the bottom 6 teams there is no guarantee that they wont be returning there anytime soon.
All 6 home teams won their fixtures in Section 4 and that included leaders Denby Dale who damaged second-placed Huddersfield Recreation Club's hopes of overtaking their hosts with an emphatic 8-1 scoreline. That gives them a 4 point lead over the new threat coming from Lindley BC 'B' who beat Primrose Hill Lib 6-3. Ravensknowle Park 'A' were the only winners in the bottom 4 and their 7-2 win over Kirkheaton Con 'B' condemned their visitors to at least another week in the bottom spot.
Marsh Lib extended their lead at the top of Section 5 to 4 points after their 6-3 away win at Hemplow 'B' with second-placed Rugby Club going down 4-5 at Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' which included a 122-122 aggregate draw. Holmfirth 'B' leapfrogged New Mill 'B' after beating them 6-3 and moved threateningly into 3rd place. The bottom four teams met and inevitably two of them won with Dalton's 6-3 victory at David Brown Sports condemning their hosts to another week at the foot of the table. Broad Oak 'B' had a big 8-1 home win over Greenhead Park but remain in the bottom two.
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