Veterans League
A review of the 6-Man League matches played on Monday 25 April
Following the latest round of fixtures there are just three teams left with 100% win records with none of those in Division 1 after Longwood lost the remaining unbeaten run away at Lindley Lib 'A'. That 5-2 win for the home side did little for either team's league position as both remain in the bottom half of the table whilst there have been some changes in the pecking order at the top end of the table.
It was a good day for leaders Honley Con as they beat third-placed Brockholes 'A' by 6-1 which saw the Badgers drop four places down to 7th spot and second-placed Crosland Moor also had a bad day as they went down 2-5 at Golcar C&BC and drop three places to 5th.
However two new threats emerge for the leaders as 6-1 wins for Netherton Con and Lockwood Con put them just two points behind the leaders and put themselves very much in contention for higher placing in the near future. Those two results mean that the two losing teams, Linthwaite Hall and Milnsbridge BC now fill the bottom two places with Linthwaite Hall looking seriously adrift already and are the only Division 1 team without a win to date.
The growing threat from reigning Champions Shepley 'A' cannot be ignored as a 6-1 home win over Thongsbridge 'B' shot them up 5 places in the table from 9th to 4th place and if they can get their away form back on track then they will become a very viable contender for further involvement in the outcome of this season's honours.
We have new leaders in Division 2 as Clayton West have a great 6-1 away win at Holmfirth 'A' to go above Slaithwaite who were without a game this week. Marsh United stay third after a 6-1 home victory over Skel Windmill 'B' and both extended the division's only unbeaten record to 3 matches. Paddock I&C and Skel Windmill 'A' had 7-0 home wins but remain 4th and 5th respectively.
There is definitely a two-tier level emerging in this division table with the top 5 teams separated from the bottom 5 by 4 points but with only one unbeaten record, to Marsh United, then anything is possible as teams settle into a weekly rhythem of playing and patterns emerge over time.
Things didn't quite work out as expected at the top of Division 3 this week with the leading three teams all at home with straightforward looking fixtures. Leaders Golcar Lib needed the better aggregate points to save them from a surprise first defeat of the season to Holmfirth 'B' with the four points won allowing them to retain a two-point lead at the top. That is mainly due to their prime challengers Thongsbridge 'A' losing their home game 2-5 to Hemplow and they drop two places to 4th as a result.
The only top-three team to perform at that level this week was Primrose Hill Lib who had a 6-1 home win over Shepley 'B' and they move up a place to second and just two points behind the leaders. Marsh Lib extended their unbeaten record to three matches with a 6-1 away win at Brockholes 'B' and saunter into 3rd place whilst Almondbury Lib announced their intent in joining the promotion race with a 6-1 home win over Marsh United 'B' which puts them 5 points behind the leaders with a game in hand.