JFT: Division 1 v Division 2 Semi-Finals

Veterans League

The Julie Fuller Trophy competition continues to throw up surprise results with yesterday's Quarter-Finals not disappointing in that respect once again. In the build-up to this round we highlighted the poor record of Division 1 teams over recent seasons with the last Division 1 winner being back in 2017.

Well, that record continued with 3 of the 5 remaining Division 1 teams going out at this stage and the biggest shock of all was that the Division 1 leaders, Marsh United 'A' were among that trio. Facing Division 2 mid-table side Holmfirth 'A' and only a 2-point handicap difference to overcome, the expectations were that this would be a formality in line with the league double they completed last year when this was a Division 2 fixture. The biggest win of the round (69-33) emphasised the achievement and the Holmfirth team progressed to the Semi-Finals where they will face another Division 1 team in Thongsbridge 'A'. In a much tighter affair the Thongsbridge side saw off the challenge of reigning Division 1 Champions, Shepley 'A' by 61-56 and again the handicap was not the decisive factor in that outcome.

In the other half of the draw Division 2 leaders Slaithwaite progressed to the Semi-Finals for a second successive year when disposing of the threat of Golcar C&BC and this time the handicap was key in the result. With an eight-handicap start, Slaithwaite won 58-51 and will play another Division 1 team in the Semi-Finals when they face Netherton Con. Last year Slaithwaite lost their Semi-Final having failed to field a full team of six and the missing pair proved to be their downfall. Hopefully, this time around they will have a full team and be competitive and we have a good tie and possibly another surprise result.

Their Semi-Final opponents will be Netherton Con who progressed at the expense of fellow Division 1 side Milnsbridge 'A' with a comfortable 65-34 scoreline. It has been a strange season so far for the Netherton outfit as winning their first 6 league fixtures was followed by losing their next 5 and dropping out of title contention. Maybe the uplift of this win will reignite their season and next Monday's league match against the same Golcar C&BC team that they have just beaten will become the launchpad for a revised challenge for honours.

So once again the 3-pairs format of the Julie Fuller Trophy continues to produce surprise results and with the poor recent record of Division 1 teams in this competition the outcome of the two Division 1 v Division 2 Semi-Finals will prevent any bland forecasting and we await the teams meeting next month.