Division 5 title race gets even tighter

Veterans League

Review of the Divisions 3,4&5 results in the 10-Man League fixtures played on Tuesday

With the bottom four teams in Division 3 within 2 points of each other and two more teams within a good win range of the bottom team it is a very congested table, further confused by the latest round of results. Holmfirth A had a good 6-3 home win over Thorpe Green but remain in bottom place with Skel Windmill and Slaithwaite realising to a 5-4 share of the spoils to deny the bottom team a hint of safety.

Then Paddock I&C suffered a 0-9 defeat at promotion-chasing Linthwaite Hall to drop two places to 9th and land themselves very much in the relegation dogfight. Some respite for Lindley Lib B who had a very good 7-2 away win at promotion-chasing Golcar Lib B and move up a place to 8th position but still very much in the relegation mix. That means that three of the bottom four teams won their matches this week to further muddy the waters in the scrap to stay up.

At the top of the table the leaders, New Mill A, lost out 4-5 at Brockholes A coupled with Linthwaite Hall's whitewash win over Paddock the gap between the top two is reduced to 10 points. That also resulted in Linthwaite Hall taking over the second promotion place with Golcar Lib B's surprise home defeat to Lindley Lib B seeing them drop two places to 4th.

Kirkheaton Con B bounced back from a surprise 2-7 Division 4 away defeat at David Brown Sports to register a 7-2 away win at Meltham B in their Thursday catch-up fixture to regain top spot and a 6-point lead over Marsh Lib A. That was the result of the Marsh Lib team's shock 1-8 away defeat at Huddersfield Recreation Club. That enabled Thongsbridge B and Huddersfield RUBC to re-enter the promotion chase after both clocked up 6-3 home wins over Marsh United B and Ravensknowle Park respectively.

On a day when all six home teams wracked up wins, David Brown Sports' win over Kirkheaton Con B moved them out of the relegation places but still in the relegation scrap along with Lockwood Con B after they went down 1-8 at Meltham B. Brockholes B remain in bottom place with a 1-8 loss at Milnsbridge B making it a 7th consecutive defeat and seemingly on their way through the relegation trapdoor.

It couldn't be much tighter at the top of the Division 5 table with Netherton Con B and Broad Oak B with almost identical records. Both have Won-12 Lost-6 figures along with a one point Aggregate Difference of 178-177 and 2255-2250 Aggregate For totals which puts the Netherton team on top for now. Every point proving crucial in this race for the Division 5 winners' title. Both teams clocked up home wins this week to hold a 10-point lead over Lindley BC B who had a 6-3 away win at Greenhead Park.

Hemplow B collected 9 points from their two fixtures this week and that lifted them from 11th to 7th place in the updated table. Marsh Lib B also had a good day as an 8-1 home win over Primrose Hill Lib saw them move off the foot of the table up to 9th position. Almondbury BC B going in the opposite direction dropping from 9th to 12th after a 2-7 away defeat at New Mill B.