Divisions 1 & 4 title races warm up

Veterans League

A preview of the Veterans 6-Man League fixtures scheduled for Monday 7 July

A head-to-head confrontation of the top two teams in Division 1 may not amount to a title decider but it could go a long way to sorting out the top contenders. With the leaders, Clayton West A, being the home team and holding a four-points lead over their Monday visitors from Marsh United A the onus is definiteley on the visiting teams to challenge the supriority that currently exists between the teams.

Interest in results at the top end of the table don't end there as the teams in 3rd and 4th positions go up against each other as well. Waterloo are best placed of that duo sitting in third place with a match in hand over all the other top teams but 10 points behind the leaders. This match presents probably the last chance for Shepley A to force themselves into title contention and they will do very well to push themselves forward as being the away side in this key fixture.

There is also a lot of interest in the fixtures that could determine at least one of the relegation places as bottom of the pile New Mill A have to go to third from bottom Golcar C&BC chasing the 6-points gap between the two teams. Wedged inbetween those two strugglers sit Brockholes A and in the knowledge that one of their prime rivals for survival will win that match they have to face an away match at Slaithwaite who will be keen to continue their move away from the lower regions of the table.

The other two fixtures involve four teams increasingly looking like long term mid-table candidates. Skel Windmill A will be keen to end a 5-match losing run when they host Thongsbridge A and Milnsbridge A go in search of their first away win of the season at Netherton Con A.

The Division 2 leaders, Holmfirth A, are the only top five team with a home fixture this Monday presenting an ideal opportunity to widen the gap especially as three of those rivals have played less matches than them. Having lost their last two matches the leaders are on a mission to get back on title track and with their Monday opponents being relegation-threatened Paddock I&C will expect to do that. However the Paddock side have won 2 of their last 3 fixtures but are still searching for a first away win this year and may not be the pushover expected.

Second in the table Broad Oak are the division's form team having won their last four matches and enjoying their first season in the League and sit two points behind the leaders with a match in hand. This week they are away to Lockwood Con who have lost 3 of their last 4 fixtures and are desparate to collect some insurance points before that run extends any further. However all the top four teams will be mindful that 5th placed Marsh Lib A have played less matches than any of their rivals and they go to play bottom of the table Thongsbridge B who have only won once all season.

Fourth placed Golcar Lib will do well to get anything much from their trip to play Crosland Moor as will Longwood from their visit to Brockholes B.

Division 3 leaders Almondbury Lib have a bye week in the comforting knowledge that their position is not under threat with the cushion of a 17-points lead meaning that the real contest is for the second promotion place. Denby Dale currently occupy that slot and would very much like to sign off with a big win before having no fixture the following week. With a home match against lowly Lindley Lib B they will be expecting to do that as they are on a four match winning run and play a team still looking for their first away win of the season.

Behind Denby Dale is a group of five teams separated by just 3 points and currently headed by Milnsbridge B who have a home match this Monday against bottom of the table Hemplow A. Anything other than a big win will not be acceptable for any team serious about their promotion intentions. Linthwaite Hall are the only team in that pack of five with an away match this week at Primrose Hill Lib and they will do well to put a black mark on that 100% home win record.

Marsh Lib B and Greenhead Park A make up that pack of five challengers and they both have home fixtures this week against teams below them in the table. Marsh Lib B play Holmfirth B and Greenhead Park host Elland C&BC.

The top two teams in Division 4 play each other as the leaders Marsh United B host Skel Windmill B. With the Marsh team having played three more matches than any other team in the top half of the table they may have to savour the moment as that lead looks most precarious. With the imminent challenge coming from Skel Windmill B who have won their last six matches and only a 4-points gap between the teams that switch could happen this week.

Hemplow B are also 4 points behind the leader and with a home fixture against Meltham this week could also overtake one or both of the teams above them. Clayton west B are on a 5-match winning run and a trip to plat New Mill B will not phase them at all as they continue to settle down in their first season in the League.

The bottom three teams all sit on the 21-point mark with every probability that Thongsbridge C will drop to clear bottom after this round of fixtures which leaves them without a game. They will be passed by Brockholes C and Shepley B if they collect any points from their home matches against Greenhead Park B and Netherton Con B respectively.