Veterans League
A review of the 6-Man League fixtures played on Monday 23 May
The 6 matches in this week's Division 1 programme all went the way of the home sides and the constipated situation at the top of the table continues to rotate between relief and pain in equal measure. Three teams are on 30 points and only 2 points separate the top 5 teams as they take it in turn to beat each other to retain the interest of all.
Extending that statistic reveals that the first 9 teams in the Division are only separated by 5 points means that just about anything is possible and almost inevitable that the leadership will change on a weekly basis.
The only thing that I can see changing matters is the stupid 50% rule that stops bowlers bowling. That will come into force later in the season. I have never known a competition that had rules to stop bowlers bowling. Teams are chasing their share of the reducing number of bowlers available and the continual decline in numbers is accelerated by such pedantic rules that served their purpose in 1970 but are well and truly past their sell-by date. Until then we should enjoy the close nature of the competition for what it is until officialdom intervenes and spoils a fascinating tussle at the top.
The top two teams met at Shepley this week where the home side recorded a 4-3 win courtesy of winning the aggregate bonus points over Golcar C&BC who drop 3 places to fifth. Shepley retain top spot only because of a greater 'Aggregate For' total over Crosland Moor who won the meeting of the 3rd and 4th placed teams when they saw off Longwood 5-2 with a close 77-73 aggregate clinching the win.
Thongsbridge 'B' become one of the three joint leaders after a 6-1 win over struggling Linthwaite Hall. Honley Con recovered from consecutive defeats to old rivals Golcar C&BC to register a 6-1 win over Lindley Lib 'A' to move back into the leading four and will expect that upward path to follow with a match against the other bottom two team, Linthwaite Hall, next week. Milnsbridge's 5-2 win over Netherton Con 'A' puts the teams level on 25 points along with Brockholes 'A' who leapfrogged their opponents, Lockwood Con, in the table after a close as you are ever going to get an aggregate win of 95-90 in a 6-1 scoreline.
In Division 2 a shock away defeat for Clayton West at lowly Lindley Lib 'B' who were only winning for the second time this season, means that they slip a point behind leaders Slaithwaite who inflicted a fourth 2-5 away defeat on the visiting New Mill team. That also allowed Marsh United 'A' to home in on second place above Clayton West after they won 6-1 away at Meltham who now find themselves at the foot of the table.
All the matches in Division 3 also went the way of the home teams and with the leaders Golcar Lib having a bye-week it looked set for second-placed Marsh Lib to claim the 3 points needed to sweep to the top of the table. However nothing comes easy at Hemplow and the home side made it four wins on the bounce and a 5-2 scoreline moved them up into 4th position and inflicting a first defeat of the season on Marsh Lib. That opened the door for Almondbury Lib to get involved and a 7-0 home win over Brockholes 'B' duly left them a point clear at the top.
A good day for Marsh United 'B' as well as they posted their first win of the season beating Primrose Hill Lib 4-3 thanks to an 85-83 aggregate advantage. A very good 5-2 home win for Greenhead Park over Thongsbridge 'A' along with Holmfirth 'B' beating Shepley 'B' by the same scoreline completed the day's results.