Veterans League
Review of the Veterans 10-Man League Divisions 3, 4 & 5 fixtures played on 15 August
The dreaded promotion and relegation dividers have been added to the latest tables to emphasise the growing importance of the proposed rebalancing of divisions at the end of the season. The dotted line shows the drop zone for the teams should the rebalancing be based on the current number of 60 teams in the League. The straight unbroken line depicts the traditional 2-up/2-down promotion/relegation dividers.
Golcar Lib 'B' and Almondbury Lib both recorded 6-3 wins this week to retain the 3-points between them at the top of the Division 3 table. The fact that Almondbury Lib beat third-placed Denby Dale extends the lead that the top two have over the other contenders.
Meanwhile the leaders shook off the threat of Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' by beating them on their own turf to put them firmly back in the chasing pack. After suffering three consecutive 2-7 defeats Brockholes 'A' got a win under their belts when defeating bottom of the table Meltham 'B' by 8-1. Skel Windmill were the only team in the bottom five to win their match when they won away at fellow strugglers Huddersfield Recreation Club.
Lockwood Con 'B' and Slaithwaite both lost 4-5 and both were only beaten by a better aggregate for score but both remain in trouble especially with the possibility of four teams being relegated from this division.
Marsh United 'B' were the only team in the top half of the Division 4 table to lose, that was by 3-6 at Lindley BC 'B' which leaves them 28-points off a promotion place, surely too big a hurdle for any team to recover from.
Lindley Lib 'B' and Springwood continue to set a hot pace at the top with the Lindley team topping up an 8-match winning run with a 6-3 victory at the Rugby Club whilst Springwood made it six on the bounce when thrashing visitors Ravensknowle Park 8-1. Only 2-points separate the two teams now and they go head-to-head next Tuesday. It is a tough closing programme for the Springwood team as they have to play the other three teams in the top four in their final four matches of the season which starts next week.
Marsh Lib won 6-3 away at Kirkheaton Con 'B' but with a 16-points gap to the promotion places rely on the top two slipping up rather than have their fate in their own hands. Primrose Hill Lib lifted themselves out of the relegation zone and up 2 places to 9th after a 6-3 home win over Almondbury BC 'B' but with only 6 points between the bottom 5 teams that is still much to play for and there will be the inevitable switching in positions as the season draws to a close.
A 7-2 home win for the Division 5 leaders, Milnsbridge 'B' over their nearest rivals, Brockholes 'B' ended the visitors 5-match winning run and possibly also ended their title challenge. They are now 7 points behind the Milnsbridge team who have a game in hand and with only one defeat in their last 7 fixtures will be confident of riding out any threat to that target. The Brockholes team will now have to turn to look behind them as David Brown Sports are just two points behind them after a 7-2 home win over Kirkheaton C&BC 'B'. With the teams meeting each other at Brockholes next Tuesday this is clearly a defining moment in the promotion race.
New Mill 'B' returned to winning ways with a 5-4 home success over Netherton Con 'B' which allowed Broad Oak 'B' to move alongside them in the table but neither teams looks to be going anywhere special this season. It is a similar story for Greenhead Park despite them collecting a good 8-1 home win over Hemplow 'B'.
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