Golcar Lib beaten again but hit 100 points

Veterans League

Review of the 10-Man League Divisions 1 & 2 fixtures played on Tuesday 25 July

Division 1 leaders Golcar Lib 'A' lost a second consecutive away match against a bottom-three team when going down 3-6 at Longwood. That gives some hope to the chasing pack but having reached the 100 points for the season mark and with a 15-points lead that hope is somewhat diluted. That result will have raised the hopes of Longwood of moving out of the drop zone after beating the top two teams in the League in their last two matches.

Rastrick stay second after ending Kirkheaton Con 'A's unbeaten home record by 5-4 and Cowcliffe ended a run of 5 straight defeats with an emphatic 8-1 home success over the in-form Clayton West side to go third in the table. Marsh United 'A' were the only other winners in the bottom six as they made it three wins on the bounce and move up to 8th place.

Lockwood Con 'A', Waterloo and Meltham all lost their matches on Tuesday to lose ground in the relegation fight with 6 points separating the 5 teams above bottom of the table Milnsbridge 'A' who were without a match this week but already seem doomed to lose their hard-fought Division 1 status.

A 9-0 Division 2 away win for Netherton Con 'A' at Bradley & Colne sends the winners top of the table. That made it 6 wins on the trot and a two-position leap to lead the table by 5 points which is some turnaround in a week. That was aided by the top two teams both losing their matches this week, Shepley lost 2-7 at Broad Oak 'A' who extended their 100% home record to 9 matches and the leaders, Lindley Lib 'A', lost 1-8 away at an improving Linthwaite Hall side. Only 6 points separate the top four teams at present but obviously a long way still to go. That top four includes Lindley BC 'A' who also passed the previous top two to go second after an impressive 8-1 home win over New Mill 'A' which was a setback to the Millers hopes of moving into promotion contention.

With the threat of up to four teams being relegated to enable the end of season balancing out of divisions there were two key matches involving teams well in and on the fringe of those relegation places. The 'A' teams from Hemplow and Holmfirth both remain in the bottom three after the visiting Holmfirth 'A' side took the eye with a second consecutive 8-1 win which took them above their opponents but still 18 points off safety if it is to be four teams relegated.

Almondbury BC 'A' and Thorpe Green had a close encounter with the visiting Thorpe Green taking the points 5-4 after a 133-132 aggregate win but both teams remain in that dangerous area and are just one point away from that fourth relegation place now occupied by Thongsbridge 'A' after sitting out last week.