Veterans League
A really appetising confrontation in the 6-Man League Division 1 fixture programme this week as the leaders take on last year's Champions when newly-promoted Honley Con will look to continue their fine start to the season when welcoming the 2021 Champions, Shepley 'A', to their home green at Lowerhouses. This is a very competitive division with no team left with a 100% win record. Home advantage seems to be key in matches in the top division where there has been only four away wins from 23 matches played so far this season, none of those three coming from Shepley 'A'. The four-point gap between the teams could become even wider at the end of the day which would be of great interest to the three closest challengers to the leaders.
Crosland Moor and Lockwood Con are in that cluster and the two teams go head-to-head this Monday. Crosland Moor will be once again looking to their fine home record to ease them past their opponents in the table and into the title mix.
Netherton Con sit second just as they did at the end of last season and a trip to Longwood will hold no fears for them as they completed a 6-1 double over them last season.
The bottom two teams in the table meet at Milnsbridge BC this week where Linthwaite Hall come looking for their first win of the season but even that wouldn't lift them off bottom spot as they are already 8 points adrift of their nearest opponents. A big win for the home side could leave the loser of the Thongsbridge 'B' v Lindley Lib 'A' game in the relegation places so adding an extra incentive to the outcome.
Brockholes 'A' and Golcar C&BC are slap bang in the mid-table positions and the result of their meeting this week could start their involvement in top or bottom issues for the rest of the season.
The Division 2 leaders Clayton West have the day off this week and that will probably lead to them losing their two-point lead at the top. Slaithwaite and Marsh United 'A' are both positioned to take advantage of their match in hand with Slaithwaite having a home match against Holmfirth 'A' looking to maximise their chances. Marsh United take the division's only unbeaten record to bottom team Lindley Lib 'B' so will also fancy their chances of moving well into contention for continuing involvement in matters at the top end.
Away wins are even more scarce in Division 2 with only three recorded to date so making New Mill's trip to play Skel Windmill 'B' a greater challenge whilst Meltham will need to win points from their home match with Skel Windmill 'A' to open up a gap between themselves and the drop zone.
The top four teams in Division 3 all face away fixtures this week. Leaders Golcar Lib have already won twice away from home this season so a trip to lowly Greenhead Park will hold no fears for them. Marsh Lib will take their 100% win record to Shepley to play their 'B' side whilst second-placed Primrose Hill Lib have the more difficult looking test at Almondbury Lib who could move above them with the right result. Thongsbridge 'A' will be looking to close the gap to the top three when they travel to play Holmfirth 'B' whilst Hemplow 'B' will expect to push up the table with a home game against bottom-of-the-table Brockholes 'B'.
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