Leaders under pressure

Veterans League

Preview of the Veterans 6-Man League fixtures for Monday 11 May

This week's Division 1 fixture programme throws up a real test for the leaders as the unbeaten Clayton West A side have to travel to play at Broad Oak A. The Broad Oak team won the Division 2 title last season and have started the season in good form winning 2 of their first 3 matches and sit third in the table. Second-placed, Marsh United A, sit one point behind the leaders but also have an away match this Monday when they travel to play 5th in the table Slaithwaite who have also won 2 out of 3 to date.

The bottom two teams, Thongsbridge A and Shepley A, both have away fixtures this week and that could offer Skel Windmill A an opportunity to put daylight between themselves and the relegation places. They have a home match against Milnsbridge A where that home advantage may be key in deciding the outcome.

With Holmfirth A having a winnable Division 2 away match against bottom-of-the-table Longwood that puts the pressure on the leaders, Lockwood Con who have to travel to play Almondbury Lib. This is a team that won the Division 3 title last season by 18 clear points so will have been disappointed to lose 2 of their 3 fixtures this year. Milnsbridge B came up with the Almondbury side but, despite winning 2 out of 3 fixtures, sit one place behind their old rivals from Almondbury Lib. The Milnsbridge side have to play at Marsh Lib A who have made a bright start to the season.

Brockholes A can do their B team a favour by beating Paddock I&C who sit in the relegation places, just one point behind the Brockholes B team who have a home match against the inconsistent Denby Dale team.

The Division 3 top two teams play teams currently sat in the bottom three positions with the leaders, Hemplow A, having to travel to play Lindley Lib B. Second-placed Thongsbridge B have home advantage over Broad Oak B but a four-point gap between the top two is unlikely to be breached this week.

The real meeting of the Division 4 heavyweights has to wait until Friday when the Thongsbridge C side host second in the table New Mill B. However the Thongsbridge team have played a match more than their opponents and the 5-points gap is very unlikely to be threatened this week.

A big away win for Skel Windmill B at Hemplow B could push them into top spot for four days and the same could be said of Netherton Con B, level on points with the Skelmanthorpe team and away to relegation-threatened (if there ever was relegation from the bottom division) Holmfirth B.