Division 1 relegation battle hots up

Veterans League

Preview of the 6-Man League fixtures scheduled for Monday 3 July

The 6-Man League doesn't reach the halfway point in the season for another week but already the race is on in Division 1 to stay at that level for four closely grouped teams. Elland C&BC are well adrift at the foot of the table and show few signs of being able to revive their survival hopes and they will do well to save anything from their trip to play Skel Windmill 'A' this Monday. The next four teams are only separated by a single point and all desperate to avoid filling the second relegation place. Two of those four teams meet this Monday when Lockwood Con are at home to old rivals Longwood.

The other two teams in that struggling quartet are Crosland Moor and Milnsbridge 'A' and both have away fixtures this week with Crosland Moor having the thankless task of hurting leaders Marsh United 'A'.

The leaders have won all their home matches this season and have only been beaten once and hold a 9-points lead at the top of the table so will relish a visit from a struggling side. The final team in that foursome is Milnsbridge 'A' and they have to travel to play third-in-the-table Golcar C&BC who have also won all of their home matches this season.

Shepley will be looking to mount a serious defence of their title with a second-half of the season run of results to challenge the leaders and a home match this week against a Netherton Con team that has gone right off the boil with three straight defeats is a good place to start. Thongsbridge 'A' v Brockholes 'A' has all the hallmarks of a mid-table with both teams having a 5-4 win record but there are still 6-points between them which Thongsbridge will be trying to bridge with home advantage to call upon.

Last week Slaithwaite deposed Paddock I&C at the top of the Division 2 table and this week the two teams meet up with only two points between them but lots at stake. Second-placed Lindley Lib 'A' have only lost one of their last seven fixtures and need to call on that form this week with a trip to Golcar Lib to overcome if they intend mounting a serious threat to the leaders.

Lots to play for at the bottom of the table with one-point separating the bottom three teams who are in danger of letting the other teams widen the gap between them. Denby Dale and Skel Windmill 'B' play each other this week and are level on points and just one ahead of bottom team Linthwaite Hall who a home meeting with Holmfirth 'A'. Milnsbridge 'B' at home to Clayton West complete the Division 2 programme with Milnsbridge 11 points behind their visitors and on a run of four straight defeats.

The two Marsh teams are level on points at the top of the Division 3 table with Marsh United 'B' leading the way but with an away fixture at Meltham to tackle this week. Whereas Marsh Lib have to take on the in-form Hemplow side that has won all of their last three matches.

Only Marsh Lib have managed to defeat New Mill in their last five fixtures and they will need to extend that kind of form if they are to take most of the points from a visit to Primrose Hill Lib. The two Thongsbridge teams are 4th and 5th in the table and both have away matches this week against bottom three teams so will both be looking for good wins to bolster their promotion chances.