Lockwood Con loitering with intent

Veterans League

Kirkheaton Con 'A' hang on to top spot in the Division 1 table after this week's matches but only by a better Aggregate Total For. They needed the match aggregate to pass visitors Cowcliffe 5-4 and stay ahead of Golcar Lib 'A' who won 6-3 away at Clayton West. Lockwood Con remain very much in contention after an 8-1 home win over Waterloo and are now loitering with intent just 6 points behind the two leaders with a match in hand.

The Lindley derby match was another close affair with the Liberal Club winning the aggregate score to inch past neighbours the Bowling Club by 5-4, a result which did neither team any favours in their fight against relegation. They are 15 points behind the next team, Meltham 'A' who were also involved in a close 5-4 scoreline but this time against them as Elland C&BC 'A' took the points from their visit.

Three wins in their last four matches for Longwood has eased any drop zone scares with this latest 6-3 away win at Marsh United 'A' pushing them upwards

An 8-1 home win for Milnsbridge 'A' over Lockwood Con 'B' emphasised their dominance of the Division 2 title fight and that result has widened their lead at the top to 21 points. With only 5 games left to play surely, this heralds the start of the celebrations and a return to the top flight after a second year in Division 2. But who goes up with them remains very much in the mix with 6 teams within 6 points of each other and all with a realistic chance of claiming the second promotion place.

Of those six contenders, the form team is New Mill 'A' as the only one to win their last 3 matches the latest one being 6-3 over nearest rivals Broad Oak 'A' who they overtook to go third with that result this week. Almondbury BC 'A' stay second after a 6-3 away win at Netherton Con which was a welcome return to winning ways after two defeats.

Three weeks ago Lowerhouses were second in the table and the emerging threat to the leaders. Since then they have had two heavy defeats so a return to winning ways was most welcome this week with a 6-3 away win at Bradley & Colne but so tight is the competition at the top that they are only 6th at present.

Slaithwaite returned to winning ways in an 8-1 away win at Thorpe Green who remain very much in the relegation mire only saved from a more dire situation by Lockwood Con 'B's indifferent run of 7 straight defeats. Brockholes 'A's run of back-to-back wins for the first time this season ended with a disappointing 1-8 defeat at Thongsbridge 'A' and they remain adrift at the foot of the table.

Linthwaite Hall gained ample revenge for their only home defeat of the Division 3 season when mirroring that 1-8 scoreline at Denby Dale this week. It could have been worse if Holmfirth 'A' had a better outcome than a 3-6 away defeat at Huddersfield Recreation Club but it is Golcar Lib 'B' that has to be watched as they recorded their fourth win in their last five matches this time 8-1 at home to Kirkheaton C&BC 'A'. The relegation drop zone seems to spread right up to 7th place in the table with half of the division's team within 11 points of each other and lots to play for as they all try and steer away from the bottom two positions. Those spots are currently occupied by Springwood and Lindley Lib 'B' although bottom placed Springwood did clock up a win this week beating Marsh United 'B' (another drop zone resident) 5-4. An 8-1 home win for Paddock I&C moved them into the top half of the table but did nothing for Almondbury Lib who are right there in the dog-eat-dog era developing among the bottom half teams.

The top 3 teams in Division 4 all comfortably won their matches this week with leaders Meltham 'B' claiming 8 points (at home to Thongsbridge 'B'), second placed Ravensknowle Park got 7 points also playing at home (to New Mill 'B') and Outlane collected 6 points from their trip to Elland C&BC 'B'.

Lindley BC 'B' swapped places with Primrose Hill Lib when beating them 7-2 and Almondbury BC 'B' raised hopes of separating themselves from the relegation battle when beating Milnsbridge 'B' 7-2 at home. Both of those teams feature in the sights of Brcokholes 'B' who collected their 5th home win on the bounce this time by 6-3 over the Rugby Club to retain hopes of further upward movement with Thongsbridge 'B' next in their sights just two points ahead of them.

Division 5 leaders Kirkheaton Con 'B' won comfortably 7-2 away at Holmfirth 'B' which included the aggregate points despite only fielding 8 players. The next four teams in the table played each other and it was Dalton who came out the worse from those in-house confrontations. They lost 2-7 at Broad Oak 'B' whilst 2nd placed Marsh Lib won 7-2 away at third placed David Brown Sports to widen their insurance of the second promotion place to 10 points.