Veterans League
Julie Fuller Trophy Semi-Finals
After the protracted series of matches in the League phase of the reformatted Fuller Trophy all eyes can now focus on the knock-out phase with the four semi-finalists lining up this Friday. Julie
Semi-Finals Friday 20 September 1.30pm
Longwood (+6) v Slaithwaite (+18) at Golcar Lib
Slaithwaite won the League phase of this competition with big wins over four Section A teams including the long-time leaders Shepley 'A'. It is clear that they are wrongly placed in a Section they continue to dominate and with the huge +18 handicap they are a force to be reckoned with although to be fair they haven't needed to resort to needing it so far. The teams have already met each other in the last round of the League phase of the competition when Slaithwaite won 79-54 so the signs are ominous. Longwood have struggled in the League this season and currently occupy one of the relegation places. Their 6-1 home win over fellow-strugglers Paddock I&C last week was their first win in their last 7 league games but their KO form has been very different. Before losing to Slaithwaite they had faced three games with a handicap disadvantage of 12 and prevailed each time and then finished the League phase in 4th position. Longwood, of course, have a very proud history in this particular competition having won it 5 times in the last 6 years, are the current holders and have lifted the trophy more times than any other team so should never be discounted at this stage.
Marsh United (+12) v Honley Con (+12) at Brockholes
Marsh United and Honley Con finished the League phase of the competition in 2nd and 3rd positions and they are currently 3rd and 1st in the Section B table. The League meeting of the teams back in June resulted in a 7-0 home win for Honley Con and they would hope to take that form into the semis this week. The Marsh side has the better recent form winning their last 3 league games whilst Honley Con have only won 2 of their last 4 matches. Honley forfeited a 5-point penalty in the last round of Julie Fuller matches by knowingly playing an ineligible bowler which was common practice with 7 other teams doing exactly the same. The League are stamping down on this practice by introducing a 21-0 scoreline for any team playing an ineligible bowler from this stage onwards and that would see them inevitably eliminated. Lets hope that it doesn't come to that but it does lead to the question what sort of teams are the four semi-finalists going to field. The 14-match rule is also now in force which stops bowlers that have played 14 or more league games in Sections 1 & 2 of the 10-Man League playing in any 6-Man League or KO matches.
THE BOWLSNET PAGES OF THE VETERANS 10-MAN LEAGUE
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