Veterans League
A preview of fixtures in the Veterans 10-Man League to be played on Tuesday 17 May
Elland C&BC 'A' beat Division 1 leaders Kirkheaton Con 'A' last week and this Tuesday get the opportunity to put the spoke into the hopes of another title contender when they play Marsh United 'A'. One big difference being that they are playing away from home this week but remain a threat to all teams in their current form. Kirkheaton Con 'A' will be looking to recover from that setback with a home match against Waterloo who sit in the bottom half of the table having lost their last two matches.
Champions Lockwood Con 'A' also have the opening to unsettle another title seeking team when they entertain third-placed Golcar Lib 'A' who are on a run of 3 straight wins including away at Marsh United 'A'. Having lost their first two matches this season the reigning Champions have returned to form also clocking up three wins on the bounce to move within striking distance of the leading bunch of teams.
Lindley Lib 'A' and Clayton West find themselves in the bottom four when they meet this week. It is Lindley Lib 'A' whose needs are greater as they have played a match more than the teams around them and will be keen to get some more points in the bag before their bye week looms.
Longwood are still looking for their first win of the season and face a Rastrick side just back off a first away win of the season at Waterloo. Meltham have started showing improved form after a slow start to the campaign and have home advantage this week over a Lindley BC 'A' side seeking their first away win of 2022.
Division 2 leaders, Milnsbridge 'A' will defend their unbeaten home record when third-placed Lowerhouses come to visit with both teams only losing once to date. Second in the table Almondbury BC 'A' will be interested in the outcome when they expect to capitalise on by picking up points away at foot of the table Brockholes 'A'. The leaders are the only top four team playing at home this week with Broad Oak 'A' travelling to play the unpredictable Thorpe Green team.
A confidence-boosting 7-2 away win at Slaithwaite for Netherton Con 'A' last week pushed them into the top half of the table and they will relish the opportunity to build on that this week with a home encounter with lowly Lockwood Con 'B'.
Bradley & Colne could jump into the top three with a good home win against Shepley with mid-table clashes between Hemplow 'A' and New Mill 'A' along with Thongsbridge 'A' v Slaithwaite completing the Division 2 fixture list for this week.
The top three teams in Division 3 all have unbeaten records and have created a safety gap of 6 points between them and the chasing pack but when two of those three teams meet this week that gap could be threatened for the losing team.
Second-placed Linthwaite Hall have to travel to play Paddock I&C who are third with both sides protecting unbeaten records with obviously one of those about to be damaged. Fourth-placed Denby Dale will be eyeing the outcome as a real opening for them if they can do well away at Springwood who are one of the bottom four who all have home games this week.
Skel Windmill and Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' have the best opportunities with matches versus the two teams immediately above them, Almondbury Lib and Lindley Lib 'B' respectively. At the bottom sit Marsh United 'B' who are still looking for their first win of the season and they will do well to get anything at all away at Huddersfield Recreation Club who have won both their previous two home fixtures this season and sit level with Denby Dale poised to take advantage of any slip-ups from the top three.
The leaders, Holmfirth 'A', have to challenge the unbeaten home record of Golcar Lib 'B' and will be satisfied should they preserve their own unbeaten record this week.
Five points separate the top seven teams in Division 4 and five of those seven teams have Won-3 Lost-1 records to date. However that seven are interspersed with two teams with Won-2 Lost-2 records. The top three teams all have home matches this week with leaders Ravensknowle Park probably having the most difficult task when fourth-placed Primrose Hill Lib come to visit. Two other top seven teams clash with second-placed New Mill 'B' welcoming Outlane this Tuesday whilst Third-placed Elland C&BC 'B' will expect to extend their winning home record when Thongsbridge 'B' turn up looking to move into the top half of the table which a win would probably produce.
The 'B' teams of Lindley BC and Meltham are in that group of four teams all on 20 points, both have very winnable home matches against Milnsbridge 'B' and the Rugby Club whilst the bottom two teams complete this week's listing by playing at Almondbury BC 'B' where Brockholes 'B' are the visiting team and both teams are looking for their first wins of the season, only one of them can achieve that.
We can expect to see new leaders of Division 5 after this week's round of matches as both the top two teams are without action this week presenting third-placed Marsh Lib with the perfect platform to go clear at the top that a fourth straight win would bring them. Defending a 100% winning record should surely be within their grasp even though they are playing Greenhead Park who sit one point behind them so if they can produce an upset then they would sit at the top instead so incentive enough to bring their best form with them.
It would be foolish to ignore Dalton in leadership discussions this week as they are 3-points short of the top spot and have a home match against bottom of the table Hemplow 'B'. The four teams above the Hemplow side play each other this week and with just four points between them one can expect some interchanging of positions as a result.
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