Division 4 title is up for grabs

Veterans League

Review of results from the Veterans 6-Man League matches played on Monday

Skel Windmill A were the top Division 1 scorers last week, which is not something you hear very often about any team residing at the foot of the table. An Aggregate For total of 103 put them in the prime position against Shepley A who were restricted to a 75 point aggregate score themselves. That all amounted to a 6-1 home win for the bottom team to give them a 4th win of the season and only 6 points off a safe position.

Marsh United crept another point closer to the leaders, Clayton West, with a 6-1 away win at Milnsbridge B compared with the leaders 5-2 home win over Waterloo. Third-placed Broad Oak A had a surprise home defeat when going down 2-5 to Golcar C&BC and Thongsbridge A's 5-2 home win over Lindley Lib A brought the losers within range of the bottom two teams and raised hopes of a great escape for one of them.

A fourth successive defeat for New Mill A appears to be handing the Division 2 title to Brockholes A who have contributed to that outcome by winning their last six fixtures. The gap is now 11 points after the Brockholes team inflicted a whitewash 7-0 home win over Denby Dale as New Mill A lost at Almondbury Lib 2-5. It could be that they have to look over their shoulders now to protect their promotion place as a gang of four is emerging with at least one of them likely to push ahead and reduce the 7-point difference that exists but will soon disappear unless New Mill return to their earlier season form.

Longwood and Marsh Lib A lead that gang of four at present on the same 77-point mark after Longwood recorded a 2nd successive 7-0 win and a fourth straight win when seeing off Golcar Lib A whilst at the same time Marsh Lib A were winning away at Holmfirth A 5-2 to leapfrog their opponents in the table. Almondbury Lib's reward for beating New Mill A is a place in that gang of four with Lockwood Con pushing their own claim to be included in that chasing group after a 6-1 home win over Brockholes B.

That was a third consecutive 1-6 defeat for the Brockholes B team and with only one win in their last 11 fixtures are showing relegation form although they remain within 5 points of catching Milnsbridge A and safety. That is despite the Milnsbridge team collecting a key 4-3 away win at Paddock I&C where a 93-92 aggregate win was decisive in that outcome.

Thongsbridge B opened up a 20-point lead at the top of Division 3 after a 5-2 away win at Hemplow A set them up for a good day. It could also lead to two of the Thongsbridge teams playing in the same division next season. Golcar Lib B are their nearest challengers and they don't play until Thursday with a trip to bottom-of-the-table Elland C&BC. The Elland outfit really need to pick some points up from this match if they have any intent of vacating the bottom spot any time soon. The two teams immediately above them in the table, Greenhead Park A and Marsh Lib B face each other with lots at stake,

Hemplow B don't play their Division 4 fixture this week until Friday when they are away at Thongsbridge C but they have already had a big boost to their promotion chances when their main rival for the 2nd promotion spot, Meltham, went down 2-5 at Brockholes C. With leaders Netherton Con B snatching a 4-3 away win at Greenhead Park B courtesy of a 87-87 aggregate draw the top place is within range of a Hemplow team that has won their last seven matches.

New Mill B kept themselves on the fringe of the promotion race with a 5-2 home win over Brockholes D whilst a 6-1 away win for Holmfirth B at Marsh United B saw them overtake their rivals but both remain very much mid-table.