Kirkheaton Cons go top of the table

Veterans League Review of the 10-Man League fixtures played on Tuesday 16 August

The teams in 2nd and 3rd positions in the Division 1 table met this week and an away 6-3 win for Kirkheaton Con 'A' over Waterloo was enough to take them to the top of the table as the previous leaders, Golcar Lib 'A', lost at home 2-7 to reigning Champions Lockwood Con 'A'. That was the end of Golcar Lib's 100% home win record and pushed the Champions back into contention after losing 3 of their previous 4 fixtures but that all changed this week.

The Kirkheaton team have a one-point lead after reaching the 100 points mark for the season whilst Lockwood Con are now 9 points off the top position with a game in hand over the 3 teams above them. Golcar Lib remain strong contenders with 4 of their last 6 fixtures being at home but for now the destination of the title remains wide open with 12 points between the top 6 teams.

The race for the title also includes third-placed Rastrick who beat Longwood 8-1 to move up a place with Elland C&BC 'A' (6-3 home winners over Marsh Utd 'A') and Waterloo all very much still in the frame for end of season honours.

Lindley BC 'A' clocked up their 2nd victory of the season with a good 7-2 home win over Meltham 'A' who have now lost all 8 of their away matches. That win for Lindley BC 'A' puts them within 2 points of neighbours Lindley Lib 'A' who went down 3-6 at Clayton West. With the League not being drawn on how many teams they expect to relegate from the top division after Crosland Moor's late withdrawal from the League it leaves both Lindley teams in fear of relegation regardless of their final finishing positions.

Lowerhouses started the week in 3rd place in the Division 2 table and finished it in 6th position after being thrashed at home by leaders Milnsbridge 'A' 1-8 who now have a 21-point lead over a bunch of four concertinaed teams separated by two points. Almondbury BC 'A' hang on to 2nd position despite losing at home 3-6 to Brockholes 'A' who claimed their first away win of the season for the day's shock result. They remain rooted to the foot of the table but now 9 points behind Lockwood Con 'B' who lost 3-6 at home to Netherton who become one of the quartet of teams jockeying for the 2nd promotion place. That also includes New Mill 'A' in those numbers after a 9-0 whitewash home win over Hemplow 'A' and a run of 7 wins from their last 8 matches which has seen them racing up the table.

Broad Oak also feature in that chasing pack with a 6-3 home win over Thorpe Green the latest addition to their 100% home win record which now stretches to 10 matches. Thongsbridge 'A' followed up last week's 9-0 demolition of Lowerhouses with an 8-1 away win at Slaithwaite although they remain in the bottom half of the table as do Bradley & Colne who suffered a 3rd consecutive defeat this time by 2-7 away at Shepley 'A'.

Only Golcar Lib 'B' in the Division 3 top five teams suffered defeat this week as they went down 2-7 at Holmfirth 'A' who stay 2nd and a return to form after losing their three previous home matches. With the threat of Denby Dale 2 points behind them with a match in hand after their latest success, 7-2 at home to bottom team Springwood. That was a bad day for the bottom team as the two teams immediately above them both registered 6-3 home wins with Lindley Lib 'B' beating Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' and Marsh United 'B' dragging Huddersfield Recreation Club into the relegation mire after their win over them.

Linthwaite Hall needed the two points for having the bigger aggregate to claim a 5-4 home win over Paddock I&C but still saw their lead cut to 7 points with 6 games left to play. Skel Windmill had a good 6-3 away win at Almondbury Lib but that wasn't enough to close the gap to the pack of three vying for two promotion places.

It was a good day for the Brockholes club for as well as their 'A' team having a great win at Almondbury BC 'A' the club's two B teams were also in direct confrontation and the Brockholes 'B' team completed a good Tuesday Division 4 double over their opponents with an identical 6-3 win. That win reduced the gap between the two teams to 4 points, down from 7 before the start of play this week. and a fourth successive home win after losing the first 6 home fixtures of the season. Things are suddenly looking so much brighter for both Brockholes teams.

There was a major setback to Ravensknowle Park's title bid when they went down 0-9 at Primrose Hill Lib but there was no slip up from Outlane who clocked up the Division's 2nd 9-0 scoreline of the day when overwhelming New Mill 'B'. That enabled Outlane to move up one place to 3rd but it was a disaster for New Mill who find themselves in bottom spot after that result coupled with Brockholes 'B's win. Meltham 'B' hang on to top place despite losing 3-6 at RUBC and even extended that lead from 2 to 5 points.

There were two tight 5-4 encounters with Thongsbridge 'B' edging it over Elland C&BC 'B' with a key 125-124 aggregate score clinching it for them. Same again in the other 5-4 scoreline with Lindley BC 'B' winning the aggregate 127-118 away at Milnsbridge 'B' but they still lost a place and ground in the promotion tussle.

All four matches in Division 5 went the way expected resulting in minor changes in the running order as David Brown Sports, Dalton and Marsh Lib all won their matches as expected and so did Netherton Con 'B' who were pushed all the way by bottom team Holmfirth 'B' before winning 6-3 and swapped table places with Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' as a result. The leaders, Kirkheaton Con 'B' were without a match and saw their 20-point lead over Marsh Lib cut back to 12-points on the same number of matches played with the two teams scheduled to meet in the penultimate match of the season.