Linthwaite Hall beat leaders to go 2nd

Veterans League

Review of the 10-Man League results in Divisions 3,4&5 matches played on Tuesday 22 July

A 6-3 home win for Linthwaite Hall over the Division 3 leaders, Almondbury Lib, pushed them up into 2nd place in the table. That move, assisted by Holmfirth A and Hemplow A both losing their matches this week, and both being overtaken in the race for the second promotion place. Only Springwood have beaten the Linthwaite team in their last 7 fixtures to catapult them up the table. That lead is only the result of a better Aggregate For total as is the one between the third and fourth placed teams as teams hit a gridlock behind the leaders who remain a good 12 points clear.

With only two points separating the five teams behind the leaders it is a congested scene where every point counts as teams start to feel the pressure. None more so than Hemplow A who suffered a 2-7 home defeat at the hands of mid-table Paddock I&C. With Holmfirth A sharing the aggregate points 111-111 at Thorpe Green butgoing down 4-5 saw them drop down a place to third but still very much in the battle for the 2nd promotion place. As are Brockholes A and Springwood. These teams met each other this week with the home team of Brockholes A edging the result 5-4 thanks to a 120-118 aggregate advantage.

A 6-3 home win for bottom of the pile Marsh Lib A over Slaithwaite was soured by the two teams above them, Lockwood Con B and Thorpe Green, both winning.

It wasn't unlucky 13 for Skel Windmill after they extended their 100% Division 4 win record even further with a 6-3 away victory at bottom of the table Netherton Con B. With only Milnsbridge B of the next four teams winning this week all contributed to the leader's gap being lengthened to 22 points. That Milnsbridge win was against another of the chasing pack, Marsh United B, who remain third just ahead over their winning opponents this week.

Kirkheaton C&BC A stay second despite a 3-6 defeat at Ravensknowle Park and it took a 117-117 aggregate draw for the Rugby Club to edge the points 5-4 in their home match against Thongsbridge B which saw them drop a place to fifth.

A great 8-1 home win for Huddersfield Recreation Club over David Brown Sports saw the teams swap places as the Recreation Club divorced themselves from the tussle to avoid the second relegation place. A 2-7 away defeat at Meltham B for Primrose Hill Lib saw the Pip Hill team firmly anchored in the relegation places.

An 8-1 home win for the Division 5 leaders, Kirkheaton Con B, saw them extend their lead to 4 points over Brockholes A who recorded the same 8-1 score win away at Almondbury BC B to overtake a Dalton team that tottered to beat lowly Marsh Lib B by 6-3.

Away 6-3 wins for Hemplow B and Lindley BC B at Broad Oak B and Kirkheaton C&BC B respectively kept alive their hopes of joining in the promotion chase. That is particularly true in Hemplow B's case as they have won 6 of their last 7 matches to move quietly up the table. Lindley BC B have won 4 of their last 5 matches but a slow start means that they will need a similar set of results going forward if they are going to get really interested in matters at the top of the table.