League News
The Veterans League Champions, Lockwood Con 'A', took a huge step to retaining their title with a 7-2 away win over their closest challengers Elland C&BC 'A' this week. The teams were locked together on the same number of points with Elland defending an unbeaten home record this season so things looked daunting for Lockwood but they were more than up to the challenge. That win takes them 5 points clear in the Section 1 table which means that Elland are now nearer the chasing pack than they are the leaders. That chasing pack consists of 8 teams separated by 6 points so obviously still a lot to play for and much to be decided in a season where the leadership of the top section is constantly changing. One of the teams that have held that top spot is Cowcliffe but as soon as they did hit the heights than they became dizzy and lost four matches on the bounce to seemingly disappear from contention. Yet one good win this week, 8-1 at home over Crosland Moor, immediately sends them into third place and a real threat once again. Longwood featured prominently in the pack but successive defeats threaten their continuing involvement albeit the latest was a tight 4-5 loss at Clayton West another member of the pack of 8. Waterloo's involvement at the top table is almost entirely down to their home record of winning all 6 home matches, the latest being an 8-1 win over Meltham 'A', whilst only winning one away match to date. Golcar Lib 'A' have only won one of their last 3 matches to undermine their own hopes with the latest being a surprise 3-6 home defeat to Lindley Lib 'A'. Marsh United 'A' thrashed bottom team Thongsbridge 'A' 9-0 on their opponent's green to once again position themselves among the contenders. At the foot of the table the bottom two teams, Thongsbridge 'A' and Netherton Con 'A', both had home games with the five teams immediately above them all playing away from home this week. This was deemed a great opportunity for the two teams to begin their push away from the nether regions of the table but both fluffed their lines and lost their matches.
Kirkheaton Con 'A' continue to sweep all before them in Section 2 with visitors Bradley & Colne the latest victims of the Cons charge to the top with an 8-1 scoreline. Their 15-point lead at the top remains unaltered as second-placed Broad Oak 'A' matched that scoreline when ending Almondbury BC's run of form and Lindley BC 'A' also had a good 6-3 away win at Shepley to retain their interest in the push for promotion. Thorpe Green faltered in that same ambition when going down 2-7 at Hemplow 'A' who eased their relegation worries as a result as did Brockholes 'A' with a 6-3 home win over bottom team Paddock I&C. Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' remain in the drop zone after a 1-8 home defeat to New Mill 'A' who move up 2 places to 5th as a result.
Lowerhouses started the week top of the Section 3 table and after a 7-2 home win over Golcar Lib 'B', who had the best away record in the section. would have expected to retain that lead however so tight are things at the sharp end of this table that they drop a place as Holmfirth 'A' clocked up a 9-0 whitewash win over Brockholes 'B' to leave the top two level on points and separated by a 1-point aggregate difference (1410-1409). Slaithwaite did little wrong when winning 7-2 away at Springwood and retain third place just a point behind the two joint leaders and this trio has opened up a 9-point lead over the remaining teams. Marsh United 'B' almost mirrored their 'A' teams whitewash scoreline but settled for 8-1 which was sufficient to move them out of the relegation places and leave their opponents Outlane firmly anchored to the foot. An 8-1 home win for Lindley Lib 'B' helped them climb a couple of places out of the immediate dropzone but the 'B' teams of Brockholes and Meltham find themselves in competition to avoid the second relegation spot after away defeats this week.
Section 4 leaders Denby Dale destroyed Lindley BC 'B's unbeaten home record with an 8-1 win which was just the response they needed after losing for the first time in their previous match. Huddersfield Recreation Club's unbeaten home record was extended to 5 matches when just seeing off Elland C&BC 'B' by 5-4 with both teams moving up the table as a result with the Recreation Club going second and Elland third. Netherton Con 'B' were three bowlers short but still pushed Almondbury BC 'B' all the way before going down 4-5 and remain in the relegation places as do Kirkheaton Con 'B' who were two bowlers short when going down 3-6 at Milnsbridge 'B'.
Marsh Lib who lost top place in the Section 5 table last week lost for a second successive week when going down 2-7 away at Greenhead Park. New Mill 'B' are the team on the up as after beating Marsh Lib last week they added to that by beating Broad Oak 'B' 8-1 to go second in the table. Huddersfield Rugby Club hang on to top spot despite going down 4-5 (aggregate 117-117) this week at Dalton. David Brown Sport's mini-revival run of two wins on the bounce ended with a 4-5 home reversal at the hands of Holmfirth 'B'.
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