Division 1 leaders shock home defeat

Veterans League

Review of the Veterans 6-Man League fixtures played on Monday 15 September

A shock home defeat of the Division 1 leaders, Waterloo, by relegation-threatened New Mill A has had a dramatic effect at both ends of the table. That was a great and unexpected win for the New Mill side and revived hopes of a big finish to avoid relegation. The two-point lead that Waterloo held over Clayton West A has disappeared and become a two-point deficit that they will seek to recover in their final two fixtures. Marsh United, as the 2024 Division 1 Champions, will renew hopes of being involved in the title race after they won 5-2 away at Slaithwaite and are now just three points off the top spot. Clayton West A played their part by winning their home match against Thongsbridge A 6-1 which has dragged the Thongsbridge team into the relegation mix.

A big 6-1 home win for Holmfirth A in the Division 2 programme over previous leaders Broad Oak has shaken up matters at the top of the table with the reward for Holmfirth being a climb up into the second promotion place. They are now one point ahead of Broad Oak, and one point behind the new leaders Lindley Lib A. That came about as a result of their 5-2 home win over Golcar Lib with a close 89-86 aggregate win clinching matters. So just two points between the top three teams although Broad Oak are well placed with a match in hand but cannot afford any more slip-ups to retain hopes of the title or promotion.

Nothing is settled at the foot of the table either although Longwood did themselves a big favour by beating fellow strugglers Thongsbridge B away by 5-2 to leap two places to 8th place whilst the other three teams in the relegation mix all lost this week. Crosland Moor lost 1-6 at home to Marsh Lib A and Paddock I&C went down by the same scoreline away to Brockholes B.

Almondbury Lib celebrated last week the winning of the Division 3 title and continued the celebrations with a 6-1 home win over Holmfirth B this week. Denby Dale played their penultimate fixture of the season when beating bottom team Hemplow A by 5-2 but are still four points behind second-placed Milnsbridge B who were without a game. The Primrose Hill Lib v Lindley Lib B fixture wasn't played and has been rearranged for Thursday 25 September.

The bottom three teams all had away matches this week and all three lost them. As well as Hemplow A losing 2-5 at Denby Dale and Holmfirth B going down 1-6 at Almondbury Lib there was also another sigh of relief from Elland C&BC, who lost 2-5 at Marsh Lib B, that they remain just out of reach of the bottom two and the threat of relegation.

At the time of writing this report (2pm Wednesday) the Marsh United B versus Clayton West B result had not been added to Bowlsnet so the outcome and table is excluding this result.

Hemplow B were already the Division 4 Champions before having a bye-week this Monday. Congratulations to them; the only sore aspect is the fact that they will probably be replacing the club's A team in Division 3 for next season. The other two promotion rivals continue their own tussle with the Clayton West B result not yet known they are two points behind second-placed Skel Windmill B. They should not dismiss the chances of Netherton Con B either as they remain within range of the two hopefuls.