League News
It is 13 years since Elland C&BC won the Veterans League Championship for the only time in the 50 years of the League. That was in 2008 and they have had a few near misses since then including being runners-up last season just 2 points behind perpetual Section 1 Champions Lockwood Con. However, we may be looking at the end of an era as Lockwood Con lost for a third consecutive league match this week when going down 2-7 at Clayton West. That allowed Elland, 6-3 winners at home to Rastrick, to take over the leadership although they have to share it with Cowcliffe on the same number of points with just 3 aggregate points (1029-1026) between them.
Cowcliffe will have a lot to say about the outcome of the title this year as well having already beaten Elland and Lockwood Con this season and don't ignore Lockwood Con, they didn't win 6 titles on the trot by succumbing to prolonged drops in form. It all adds up to an intriguing set up which should entertain us all for the rest of the season.
Cowcliffe beat Lindley Lib 8-1 this week to ensure that they remain included in any discussion on the destination of the 2021 title. It would be foolish at this early stage to dismiss other contenders as well especially Longwood who sit 4th just a single point behind Lockwood Con and they had an excellent 7-2 away win at Marsh United 'A' this week. It would seem the worst thing that the Marsh team did was beating Lockwood Con twice in 3 days at the beginning of the month as they haven't won since. Golcar Lib 'A' and Waterloo will be pressing their claims for a vested interest in Section 1 honours as well and they are only 6 points off the top of the table with both having 8-1 wins this week to promote their own claims.
In Section 2 Thorpe Green extended their winning run to 8 matches when beating Milnsbridge 'A' 6-3 but even with a 100% win record they cannot hang on to top spot with Kirkheaton Con 'A' taking over this week. The Con won 9-0 for a second consecutive match, this time away at Hemplow which plunged them to the foot of the table. Kirkheaton Con have only lost one match this season (to Thorpe Green) and have now won all 5 away matches. Lindley BC 'A' make up the trio at the top after a 6-3 home win over Bradley & Colne kept them in contention as the top 3 are separated by 2 points. Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' were the only team in the bottom 5 to win their match this week when they saw off Brockholes 'A' 7-2 to leapfrog their opponents
There was a setback to Holmfirth 'A's Section 3 title aspirations when going down 4-5 at home to Golcar Lib who pinched the aggregate points by a 119-116 scoreline. That enabled Lowerhouses and Slaithwaite (despite only having 9 bowlers) to move closer in contention as both had 8-1 home wins cutting the leaders points cushion to 5 points. A great 6-3 away win for Marsh United 'B' lifted them off the foot of the table as the only winners in the bottom four although only 2 points separate all four of them now.
Denby Dale hold the League's second 100% win record but they were pushed all the way in their latest defence before eventually overcoming Primrose Hill Lib 6-3 with a narrow 128-129 aggregate advantage proving key. That win enabled them to extend their lead at the top of the Section 4 league table to 7 points as nearest challengers Lindley BC 'B' lost 3-6 away at Milnsbridge 'B'. Thongsbridge 'B' and Elland C&BC 'B' moved menacingly closer into 3rd and 4th places after both had away wins this week at Kirkheaton Con 'B' and Netherton Con 'B' respectively.
The top two teams in Section 5 retained their grip on the promotion places after both had comfortable home wins. Leaders Marsh Lib 7-2 over Broad Oak 'B' and Huddersfield Recreation Club 8-1 over Hemplow 'B' whilst New Mill 'B' and Dalton both moved out of the bottom half of the table into the top four with home wins over Holmfirth 'B' and David Brown Sports respectively.
Veterans 10-Man League Bowlsnet
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