Veterans League
Preview of fixtures for Tuesday 29 August in Divisions 3, 4 & 5 of the 10-Man League
The table below lays out the rest of the season fixtures for the current top four teams in Division 5 who are fighting it out for two promotion places and the title of course. The fixtures highlighted in Yellow involve teams who are both in the top four. The fixtures highlighted in Blue are fixtures against teams in the bottom three places in the table.
It very much looks like it is Milnsbridge's title to lose as they have a comfortable lead and one more game to play than their two nearest rivals. On the down side is the fact that 2 of their remaining fixtures are against teams in the top four. Brockholes 'B' are 7 points behind the leaders and 7 points in front of their two prime opponents for the second promotion place. Three matches left to play and only one of those is against a top-four opponent and 2 of the 3 are at home. David Brown Sports also only have 3 matches left to be played although two of those are at home where they remain unbeaten. In addition two of the matches are against bottom-three opponents. The problem is that they will run out of matches before they have closed the gap on the top two. They have the easiest run-in of the top four and certainly easier than that of Broad Oak 'B' who have the most difficult-looking run-in to the end of season with two matches against top four opponents and both are away from home. They will have to win both of those matches if they are to stay in contention right until the last day but that all adds up to a real challenge which may be just a step too far this year.
In Division 3 the leaders are Golcar Lib 'B' and they will expect to extend their current 11 points lead when hosting bottom-of-the-table Meltham 'B' this Tuesday. Second-placed Almondbury Lib visit Skel Windmill 'B' who are scrambling for their Division 3 existence but appear to be up for the challenge having won their last two matches. Denby Dale will do well to close the gap on the top two as they have to go to Outlane.
With the possibility of four teams to be relegated this season to enable the promised rebalancing of divisions to take place, there is a mad scramble for places ongoing. There are just 5 points between the 6 teams in 5th and 10th positions and any match involving any two of those six is bound to raise interest. There is one match this week that matches that criteria where Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' (5th) have home advantage over Slaithwaite (8th).
In Division 4 leaders Lindley Lib 'B' are on a 10-match winning run which started at the end of May against Ravensknowle Park who are their opponents again this week. Second-placed Springwood have an 11 points lead over Marsh Lib so, even though they are not playing this week, cannot be overtaken.
It looks like any 3 from 6 at the bottom who will drop down a level for next season. With only 3 fixtures left to play Kirkheaton Con 'B' look to have their name on one of those places but who is going to join them remains open to any team entering a bad run of results. Two of the drop zone contenders are Lindley BC 'B' (7th on 66 pts) who have home advantage over Almondbury BC 'B' (9th on 62 pts). Primrose Hill Lib 10th on 60pts) and the Rugby Club (8th on 62 pts) both have home matches against higher opposition, Thongsbridge 'B' and Marsh Lib respectively, where they really do need to win to salvage any hopes of avoiding the drop.
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