How many crowns on this green today?

Veterans League

Preview of the Tuesday fixtures in the Veterans 10-Man League

Each time I play at Lowerhouses, I count the number of crowns that I can see on the green. The number seems to change every time I visit. Last time I counted 5 crowns which all contribute to making it one of the most difficult local greens for an away team to win on as proven last season when the home team won all 11 of their Division 1 fixtures on their way to the title. Waterloo will find out how difficult that is this Tuesday when they make that journey, hardly in the best of form having lost all 5 of their fixtures this season. Good luck to them. The last time that Lowerhouses lost a home match was on 18 July 2023 to Marsh United A, a run of 15 straight wins followed.

Golcar Lib A sit at the top of the table and have an away match against Lockwood Con A who have a very different playing record. They haven't won either of their two home matches this season. Losing to Lowerhouses and Longwood, which more teams will do as the season progresses, I am sure. They would dearly love to open their home account this week against these old rivals but the Golcar team will be equally determined to preserve their top of the table status.

After winning their opening three fixtures, Longwood have suffered two subsequent defeats to Marsh United A and Lowerhouses. This week they will be aiming to put that run behind them when have Lindley Lib A as guest visitors. The Meltham A team went all last season without a home defeat as they took the 2024 Division 2 title. Different this year as they have struggled to re-establish themselves at the top level and have third-placed Kirkheaton Con A as visitors this Tuesday who will want to put last week's first defeat of the season behind them.

Fourth-placed Clayton West have to go to play a Rastrick team that has put a stuttering start to the season behind them and now sit comfortably in mid-table. That just leaves the Marsh United A versus Cowcliffe fixture to complete Tuesday's programme with the two teams only separated by 2 points but 3 places between them.

Denby Dale may be in a false position in the Division 2 table having lost 3 of their 5 fixtures but 2 of those were against the all-conquering Elland teams. This week's home match against third-placed Shepley will provide a better indicator to their chances of climbing the table in the immediate future. However as the Shepley team are on a high after last week's win through to the semi-finals of the Team KO to add to their record of having won both of their home fixtures to date and will be confident of extending that run further.

The two Elland teams will expect to tighten their stranglehold on the two promotion places with the WMC at home to Almondbury BC A and the Cricket and Bowling Club away at Broad Oak A. This may be the opportunity for the WMC to edge nearer their title rivals as the Broad Oak A side have won both of their previous home games and need to extend that run if they harbour any hopes of moving up the table.

Lindley BC A have already played both Elland teams (Won-1 Lost-1) so can now look forward to more even fixtures coming up starting with an away trip to play Thongsbridge A who sit one point behind them in the table. Golcar Lib B will be keen to register a third successive home win when they host a New Mill A side looking for a first away win this year. Bottom-of-the-table Netherton Con A have home advantage over Milnsbridge A but their visitors are in good form so they may need more than that to secure a desperately needed win.