Meltham make instant return to Division 2

Veterans League

Review of the final days' results for Divisions 1&2 of the Veterans 10-Man League

Lowerhouses confirmed the inevitable by lifting the Division 1 Champions title after beating Golcar Lib A 7-2 on Tuesday. That ensured that Longwood didn't close the gap on the leaders but by collecting a similar 7-2 home win they are confirmed as the runners-up for a second successive season to the same table-toppers. Their win over Kirkheatoon Con A created a large 26-point gap to third-placed Clayton West. However that may change if we ever learn of the result of the Waterloo v Cowcliffe fixture.

No-one including the League seem to know if this match has been played or not and the fact that the home team hasn't posted a result on the Bowlsnet system isn't a guide as to the result, as it is not unusual for Waterloo to record a late result. I asked the League what had happened to stop any result being posted but I am still waiting for a response. Even by their own standards a Friday afternoon posting, some 40 hours after the Wednesday midnight deadline, would be stretching their own record. I assume the match didn't go ahead for some reason so if anyone knows the story behind that, then perhaps they might enlighten the League.

Regular readers will know that I had a rant last month about late results being posted on Bowlsnet. Whatever the outcome Waterloo will still be relegated and Meltham A will be joining them for next season. That means a final run of 4 wins in their final 7 fixtures failed to save them and an immediate return to Division 2 awaits them after winning the Division 2 title last year.

The one outstanding outcome in Division 2 was settled on the final day as New Mill A couldn't better the Netherton Con A 8-1 home win over Almondbury BC A who avoided a second successive relegation by two points. With the Netherton team winning 4 of their last 7 season fixtures to send New Mill A down a level for next season, along with Golcar Lib B. That outcome means that no club now has two teams in the top two divisions.

Congratulations to the two Elland teams going up to Division 1 together well ahead of third-placed Shepley.