Veterans League
Preview of the fixtures in Divisions 3, 4 & 5 on Tuesday 15 April
There is a tasty-looking fixture lined up at the top of Division 3 this week as the top two teams go head-to-head at Denby Dale where the new boys from Elland WMC are the visitors. Both teams had big wins last week but one of them will not be building on that success this Tuesday. Denby Dale have home advantage so will be favourites to retain their top-of-the-table position but the Elland side are an unknown factor at present so they still have to confirm their credentials as true title contenders. By finishing last season in third position the Denby team continues to move closer to a promotion that has so far eluded them.
It is not too many seasons ago that the Brockholes A side was a Division 1 and 2 yo-yo team but that has all changed and a bottom of Division 2 finish last year may have been the final low spot that galvanised a restart in their fortunes. They certainly started the new season with a very commendable 6-3 win at Outlane and will be looking to build on that with a home match against a Hemplow side playing their first match of the season.
Skel Windmill had an opening day win to savour after winning away to a much-fancied Slaithwaite side last Tuesday so a home fixture against Outlane should hold few fears and enable them to add more points to their opening total. It is a similar situation for Lindley Lib B who had a good 6-3 away win on the new Thorpe Green green last week and take on a Paddock I&C side stung by a 1-8 home defeat last week.
Holmfirth A play Thorpe Green with both sides looking for their first wins of the season.
Ravensknowle Park and Huddersfield Recreation Club had good home wins to start their 2024 Division 4 season and both will be aiming to build on that with winnable away fixtures against bottom-half teams this Tuesday. Both won their first matches to fill the top two positions and Ravensknowle Park now go to the Rugby Club looking to add to their two-points lead at the top of the table. The Recreation Club have a trip to play Lockwood Con B whilst two more first day winners go up against each other. Milnsbridge B had a good 6-3 away win last week at much-fancied Marsh Lib and this week have home advantage over Marsh United B who themselves are looking to add to their opening day victory against Lockwood Con B.
There are a couple of fixtures involving teams that won last week against teams that lost their opening fixtures. Kirkheaton C&BC A (2-7 losers) meet Thongsbridge B (7-2 winners) and then Lindley BC B (lost 1-8) play Brockholes B (won 6-3). Two opening day losing teams also go up against each other as Meltham B host Marsh Lib as the season feels that it is really starting now.
David Brown Sports and Netherton Con B both had big away wins last week to head the first Division 5 table of the new season. They can build on that with home fixtures this Tuesday as David Brown Sports, the Fantasy League most picked Division 5 team, welcome Broad Oak B to their Crosland Moor home green. They can dream of a second 9-0 victory but Broad Oak B will provide stiff opposition and the teams finished within a point of each other last season in 3rd and 4th places. A 7-2 away win at Kirkheaton C&BC last week was a good start to the new season for Netherton Con B and a home match this Tuesday against Holmfirth B could be another stepping stone to higher platforms.
Dalton currently sit third in the table and have to travel to New Mill this week as both teams aim to build on opening-day wins. The Primrose Hill Lib v Kirkheaton Con B match was postponed last week so both teams start their 2024 season with matches on Tuesday against teams that lost their opening fixtures. The Pip Hill team go to Hemplow and the Kirkheaton side have home advantage over Almondbury BC B. Two more teams that lost last week go up against each other when Greenhead Park host Kirkheaton C&BC B.