Leaders lose and Cowcliffe hit nine

Veterans League Review of Tuesday's results in Divisions 1&2 of the 10-Man League

Division 1 leaders, Lowerhouses lost for only the second time this season when going down 3-6 at Longwood on Tuesday. That outcome hardly made a dent in their lead at the top of the table especially as one of the prime threats, Rastrick, went down 0-9 away to a struggling Cowcliffe side. That was a first win in five for them and it lifted them two places up the table and out of the relegation places. Rastrick are now third, one place behind Elland WMC who are mounting a strong bid for a top two place after a fifth successive win when beating Lockwood Con A 7-2.

Good away wins for Golcar Lib A (7-2 at Kirkheaton Con A) and Clayton West (6-3 at Elland C&BC) saw them both pass Rastrick going in the opposite direction. Longwood's win over Lowerhouses puts them in a group of six teams in the 50 points region.

Meltham A retain their 8-point lead at the top of the Division 2 table despite losing 3-6 away to Thongsbridge A with Denby Dale also taking closer order as four teams line up chasing the second promotion spot with just 4 points between them. Second-placed Netherton Con A had a setback to their promotion hopes losing 3-6 away to an improving Shepley team but hang on to second place for now.

At the wrong end of the table with Hemplow A look particularly fragile at present having not won a match since the opening day of the season (7-2 at home to Shepley) making that 3 consecutive defeats. The latest loss coming away to Waterloo who have won 4 of their last 5 matches. The Hemplow team are 22 points off safety and showing no sign of improving. That, along with fellow strugglers, Almondbury Lib, also losing 2-7 away to Denby Dale means they are now further adrift of the next highest team, Broad Oak A, who lost 4-5 at home to Milnsbridge A with a 119-118 aggregate win proving key to adding the bonus points.