Division 1 title race is still on

Veterans League

Preview of the Veterans 6-Man League fixtures for Monday 15 September

The destination of the 2025 Division 1 title remains very much up in the air. Four points separate the three main contenders with three matches left to play. Marsh United A have the toughest run-in to the end of season with two away matches compared with the two home matches that each of their rivals still has to play. Add to that the fact that Marsh United have to play the other two title contenders and that shows up a really tough run into the end of the campaign. However that does present them with a great opportunity to knock off the points they need to find to catch up with the top two.

Things remain close at the foot of the table with New Mill A in danger of being relegated this week as they have to travel to play the league leaders, Waterloo. A big defeat would signal the end of their one season at the top table after enjoying promotion from Division 2 last season.

Brockholes A are also deep in trouble and could also drop through the relegation trapdoor this week with a tough task away at Golcar C&BC this Monday. The Golcar team need a win to secure their top-level presence for another season, so they will be well motivated. Netherton Con A and Thongsbridge A could also get dragged into the dropzone bunfight with the Thongsbridge team having the toughest task playing away at title chasers Clayton West.

Matters are equally tight in Division 2 with the added implications of promotion as well as the title up for grabs. An identical 2 points between each of the top three teams as we enter the final three weeks of the 2025 season. Broad Oak A are the favourites as they currently lead the way and have one more game than each of their main rivals still to play but have two away fixtures in that end run.

Lindley Lib are their prime threat with two home matches to play, one of those against Longwood who could still be hoping to escape relegation on the final day of the season. Holmfirth A's continuing interest in the title or promotion probably hinges on the outcome of their home match this Monday against Broad Oak A. If they lose that, then continuing interest in the title race will disappear.

Almondbury Lib are the Division 3 Champions and can relax in the knowledge that they cannot be caught. The race is on for the second promotion place with second-placed, Milnsbridge BC B, firm favourites to join the leaders in Division 2 next season. They have a day off on Monday but know that they cannot be passed in the promotion race this week. That day off may serve them well, as last week their 12-week winning run came to an end at Linthwaite Hall. Third-placed Denby Dale have a home banker against bottom-of-the-pile Hemplow A which should set up a tense final week of the season.

That fixture for bottom team Hemplow A is just one of the three remaining fixtures all against top four teams, two of them away from home and already 5 points from safety. All the signs are that they will be relegated so lets look at the other three strugglers. Second from bottom, Holmfirth B, have two away fixtures in their run-in including one this Monday against the Division 3 Champions. The clash next week between Elland C&BC and Greenhead Park A will probably secure the future for the winners but the current bottom two teams have most to fear.

Hemplow B are the Division 4 Champions and look odds on to be swapping places with their own A team next season. This week is a bye week for them and they can relax in the knowledge that the title is already in the bag. Three B teams are fighting for the second promotion place and all three have 2 away fixtures in that last 3-week run. Clayton West B currently hold pole position and have won their last four fixtures to be the form team but one of their away matches is at Champions Hemplow B the only top four opponent that any of the three promotion-chasing contenders have to face.

Netherton Con B have three bottom four opponents to play so that would suggest that they are likely to be the main threat to Clayton West for the second promotion place although Skel Windmill B would dispute that and remain a real threat to the other two contenders.