Veterans League
Review of the 10-Man League fixtures played on Tuesday 31 May

There is a new leader at the top of the Division 1 table after Golcar Lib 'A' won 7-2 away at a 9-man Lindley Lib 'A' on Tuesday. That gives them a 3-point lead over Kirkheaton Con 'A' although they have played a game more than all four teams immediately behind them in the table and all within passing distance of the new table-toppers. After two defeats, Kirkheaton Con 'A' returned to winning ways with a 6-3 home win over Longwood whilst Lockwood Con 'A' moved ominously threatening into 4th place after hammering old rivals Elland C&BC 'A' 8-1.
Clayton West were the only bottom half Division 1 team to win this week and their 7-2 home win over Lindley BC 'A' condemned their rivals to another week at the foot of the table. In addition to those already mentioned, away defeats also for Cowcliffe and Waterloo ensured that they remained nearer the bottom of the table rather than the top.

The top two tussle in Division 2 went the way of Almondbury BC 'A' who won 7-2 away at leaders Milnsbridge 'A' who remain at the top of the pile but with a greatly reduced points advantage of just a single point. Bradley & Colne and Netherton Con 'A' are both within touching distance of the top two after they both had good home wins this week.
Brockholes 'A' would need to double their 2022 points total of 17 to lift themselves out of the relegation places and a 1-8 defeat away at Netherton didn't help their cause this week. Lockwood Con 'B' are in danger of setting up a permanent placing in the second relegation place and are now 7 points off safety, although Thorpe Green offer a target and continue to flounder just above the drop zone and a 1-8 home defeat to Lowerhouses didn't do them any favours at all this week. New Mill 'A' and Hemplow 'A' both had 7-2 home wins on Tuesday to ease their own relegation worries
Paddock I&C continue to tumble down the Division 3 table after leading it two weeks ago and now after two defeats they find themselves in 6th place, 7 points off top spot. That second defeat came at the hands of Holmfirth 'A' who beat Paddock 7-2 on their own green to stay top.
More movement among the top six who started the week with just 5 points between them so any big win can move a team upwards quickly which is what has happened to Golcar Lib 'B' this week after an 8-1 home win over Lindley Lib 'B' and they move up from 4th to 2nd. They passed both Denby Dale and Linthwaite Hall who both won but not by the same margin as the Golcar outfit. Skel Windmill were the only winners in the bottom six and that was an overwhelming 8-1 home win over bottom team Marsh Utd 'B' and those 8 points lifted them three places to 7th.
It was a good day for Division 4 leaders Ravensknowle Park who quashed the hopes of improving Outlane when beating them 7-2 and then saw their three closest rivals all struggle to pick up points. Primrose Hill Lib and the Rugby Club both lost their matches and ground in the promotion fight as Lindley BC 'B' overtook them both and moved up from 5th to 2nd after an 8-1 home win over New Mill 'B'. They also overtook Elland C&BC 'B' who drop a place to 4th despite beating Milnsbridge 'B' 5-4 where the aggregate advantage was required to pinch the majority of the points.
Also taking advantage of those slip-ups were Meltham 'B' who moved up three places to third after beating Primrose Hill Lib 8-1 which was something of a surprise as Pip Hill had won their last four matches and they now reside in 5th place, down 3 from last week's 2nd slot. The bottom two teams both picked up some useful points as Almondbury BC 'B' beat the Rugby Club 5-4 and bottom side Brockholes 'B' put up a good performance against Thongsbridge 'B' before eventually going down 4-5 with a two-point aggregate difference (117-119) proving key.
With Division 5 leaders Marsh Lib having a bye this week second-placed Dalton took advantage to take over at the top despite losing 4-5 at Greenhead Park. Kirkheaton Con 'B' go second after winning the Kirkheaton 'derby' match 7-2 but Netherton Con 'B' failed to tag along with them as they lost 1-8 at David Brown Sports. Well done to Hemplow 'B' who won their first match of 2022 beating Broad Oak 'B' on their own green 5-4 and that was sufficient to lift them above Holmfirth 'B' and off the bottom of the table.
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