Veterans League
Preview of the 10-Man League Divisions 3, 4 & 5 fixtures for Tuesday 13 August
Elland WMC are the Division 3 form team with only one defeat in their last 10 fixtures and unbeaten at home all season so deservedly sit at the top of the table. With a home match against 3rd-placed Brockholes A on Tuesday they have a real opportunity to push ahead towards their promotion target. One of their 3 defeats on the road came at Brockholes A so there is a reality check in that form book. A 12-point lead over their opponents could be much bigger after this week and that would suit 2nd-placed Denby Dale as well.
Denby Dale also have a 100% home record but have lost their last two matches which were both away from home. They will not be giving up on the title race and with only 5 points off the top why would they? Their destiny is no longer entirely on their own hands and they need the leaders to slip up to create an opening for them.
A magnificent 6-3 away win last week for Thorpe Green, only their second of the season, awakened their survival hopes and a home match against Springwood who sit one place above them in the table could be the platform they need to begin their great escape. That may be helped by Holmfirth A who host bottom team Skel Windmill although they in turn had a great win last week when beating Paddock I&C and dragging them back into their sights. However the Holmfirth team have beaten the top two teams in their last 3 matches so are operating on a different level to Tuesday's opponents.
There could be a great opportunity for Kirkheaton C&BC A to launch a promotion bid in Division 4 as they are the only top five team with a home match this week and that is against bottom-of-thetable Lindley Lib B. However their recent form has been very unpredictable but an earlier 8-1 away win against Tuesday's opponents should give them great hopes of moving into contention at the top end of the table.
The top two teams are separated by one point and both play bottom half opposition this week. Milnsbridge B have the better recent for run with only one defeat in their last 7 and travel to meet Ravensknowle Park who have a mirror record to their opponents with only one win in their last 7. The leaders are Lockwood Con B and they play a Huddersfield RUFC team that have lost 2 of their last 3 home matches.
The two Marsh teams make up the top five with the Marsh Lib side fresh from last week's 8-1 home win over their neighbours. But with an away record of one win all season they will need to improve in that department if they harbour any hopes of joining the promotion race. Last week's defeat for the Marsh United B team ended a run of 4 straight wins which they will hope to resume at Brockholes B.
Meltham B are another team looking at their away record as the reason for their low standing in the table. No away wins being a major contributer to their position in the relegation places with another chance to break that sequence although their opponents, Thongsbridge B, have only lost one home match all year and that was back in May.
The top two teams in Division 5 are on good winning runs and both have very winnable away fixtures this week. Netherton Con B head the table and play a bottom-of-the-table Almondbury BC B team that have won their last two matches. David Brown Sports face a Hemplow B side that have lost their last three fixtures as 3rd placed Dalton host a Kirkheaton C&BC who have won their last two matches although both were on their home green. It is difficult to see anything other than wins for the top three teams and no change in the running order this week.
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