Veterans League
Preview of the 10-Man League Division 1 % 2 fixtures scheduled for Tuesday 16 April
Whilst it may be too soon to start calling them relegation 18-pointers there is no doubt that Division 1 teams meeting with both teams having no wins after Week 1 are already under pressure. There are two such meetings this week as Cowcliffe entertain Kirkheaton Con A and Lowerhouses host Netherton Con A. With saturation problems with the Kirkheaton green it means they have started off the season with two away fixtures which hasn't helped as they only won one away match all last season.
Lowerhouses have strengthened their team over the winter break and wont expect to be languishing in the lower reaches for too lon and a start with a home win over promoted Netherton Con A would fit the bill.
Lockwood Con A started the season with an emphatic win over Rastrick to head the Week 1 table. They will need to hit top form to take anything away from their trip to play last season's runners-up Marsh United A who had a good opening away win at Netherton to pick up where they left off last year.
Longwood play a second home game this time against Lindley BC A who suffered a home loss on the first day of the season albeit by the tightest of 4-5 margins. Clayton West opened the season with a good 7-2 home win and will be aiming to build on that when they go to play Rastrick who will be keen to put an opening day 1-8 defeat quickly behind them. The Waterloo v Golcar Lib A match has been put back to Friday 26 April and will see the 2023 3rd v 1st encounter after both teams started the new season with good wins.
The three teams relegated from Division 1 at the end of last season head the Division 2 table after the opening round of matches. With that first home win behind them they will be keen to add to that with a first away win as well. The most difficult looking of those three fixtures seems to be for Elland C&BC who have to go to Thongsbridge A who scored the division's only away win last week when they overcame Almondbury Lib 7-2.
Meltham started their bouncebackability season with a crushing 9-0 win over Golcar Lib B to head the first table and will be looking to add to that away to Shepley this week. Golcar Lib B take on the third former Division 1 side, Milnsbridge BC A, this week eager to get that first win of the season added to their record.
Last week Linthwaite Hall suffered a 1-8 reversal at Milnsbridge A and this week host New Mill A who edged their opening fixture 5-4 over Shepley. That leaves two remaining fixtures involving the two Almondbury teams. The Bowling Club have home advantage over Lindley Lib A who had a promising start to the season when beating Broad Oak A by 7-2. That Broad Oak team will be aiming to collect a first win when hosting Almondbury Lib this time around.