Divisions 3, 4 & 5 Tuesday fixtures

Veterans League

Preview of the Divisions 3, 4 & 5 of the 10-Man League scheduled for Tuesday 9 July

The top three teams in Division 3 all have home fixtures in Tuesday's programme with further opportunity to drive a bigger and bigger wedge into the gap between them and Paddock I&C who are emerging as the stepping stone between the leading trio and the rest of the teams. That gap could grow considerably this week unless Paddock I&C can spring a surprise when they play at second-placed Elland WMC. Having won their last 4 matches shows that the momentum could be with Paddock but it may take more than that to threaten the Elland team's unbeaten home record.

Although Brockholes A sit in third place they are 8 points off the promotion places and have to entertain a Springwood team still high from their 9-0 home win of last week. Denby Dale are the leaders with 9 wins from 10 matches and host a Thorpe Green team that has the exact mirror image of that record - one win from 10 matches.

Skel Windmill need to regroup after last week's humbling 0-9 reversal at Springwood when they have a home match against third-from-bottom Hemplow A. It should be remembered that the no team up to 7th place have won more matches than Skel Windmill so how they get to be the bottom team defies logic. Only two points separate the 5 teams in mid-table with four of them going up against each other which may sort out the pecking once and for all.

None of the four have shown any consistency at all and none of them have any impressive recent form as Holmfirth A (8th 39pts) take on Slaithwaite (5th 41 pts) and then Lindley Lib B (6th 41 pts) host Outlane (7th 41pts).

In Division 4 only 2nd-placed Milnsbridge can point to a recent run of good results having won their last three fixtures. After a good win over the leaders in that run last week and with a trip to play relegation-threatened Meltham B looming they may well extend that run. The leaders, Lockwood Con B, will be looking to bounce back from that setback and have a recuperation opportunity with a home fixture against Marsh Lib who have only won one away match this season.

Kirkheaton C&BC A are only two points behind the leaders and have a home match this Tuesday against Ravensknowle Park who have lost their last three matches so will be looking for an improvement on that but the Cricket Club have won all 5 home matches this season and continue to be hard to beat on their own turf.

Top billing in Division 5 goes to the 2nd v 3rd clash of David Brown Sports and Dalton. Having won their last six matches, Dalton will be confident of putting on a good show but whether they can narrow the 5-point gap between the two teams is a big ask as the David Brown's team has won all four of their previous home matches. Netherton Con B could be the main beneficiary of that clash when they go to play at Greenhead Park where they will expect to pick up enough points to extend their lead.

New Mill B are the only team in the bottom four with a home fixture this week and that is against one of their closest rivals Kirkheaton C&BC B who are just one point behind them in the table. With the B teams of Holmfirth and Almondbury BC both away from home it could be a real good day for the New Mill team.