Nervous moments for title challengers

Veterans 10-Man League

Review of matches played on Tuesday 14 September

Unconvincing performances and results littered the top of Section 1 as the teams involved in the title race produced nervous displays as the season moves into the final fortnight. Leaders and defending Champions Lockwood Con 'A' needed the better aggregate score to win for the second consecutive home match this time against Clayton West by 5-4. Prime rivals, Elland C&BC 'A's match at Rastrick has been put back until this Friday so allowing Longwood to go second but they will need to win home matches by more than this week's 6-3 scoreline if they are to threaten to dislodge either of the top two teams. At the other end of the table Thongsbridge appear doomed but are not going down quietly as depicted by collecting 4 points at that home fortress at Waterloo. Netherton Con 'A' remain favourites to go down with them after a 2-7 home defeat by Golcar Lib 'A' with their hopes of survival seriously undermined by Meltham's great 9-0 home win over Crosland Moor who reversed positions with their opponents and surely clinched their Section 1 status for another year. It is now Crosland Moor that are in the sights of Netherton Con as their means of escaping relegation and the remaining fixtures of both teams make interesting reading. Netherton Con have to go to bottom team Thongsbridge where anything less than a win will signal their demise and then have poor travellers Waterloo as their final home opponents. Crosland Moor have an away match at Marsh United 'A' followed by a final day home encounter with Clayton West.

Kirkheaton Con 'A' duly collected the 2 points they needed to confirm the destination of the Section 2 title with a 7-2 home win over Hemplow 'A' but who will get promoted with them remains in doubt after this week's results. New Mill 'A' bounced back from their first defeat in 12 league matches last week to demolish Shepley 9-0 to announce their intention of staying in the promotion race. It is still a big ask to claw back the 6 points they are now behind Lindley BC 'A' with only 2 games to go but they are certainly not giving up on that prize. The Lindley outfit had a very good 7-2 away win at fading Bradley & Colne who have registered only one win in their last 7 fixtures. A 3-6 loss against a seemingly doomed Paddock I&C all but ended any lingering hopes that Broad Oak 'A' may have had regarding a late push for promotion. Despite that win Paddock I&C seem sure to join Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' in the relegation places after they confirmed their drop after a 1-8 defeat at Brockholes 'A'.

Slaithwaite extended their lead at the top of Section 3 after an 8-1 away win over relegation threatened Outlane. Lowerhouses won 6-3 at Almondbury Lib to stay second but Golcar Lib 'B' moved closer with an 8-1 home win over fourth-placed Holmfirth 'A'. Meltham 'B' moved out of the bottom two following a 6-3 home win over bottom team Brockholes 'B' a win that also sent Outlane into the relegation places.

Huddersfield Recreation were without a Section 4 fixture this week but remain top although their previous 10-point lead has been whittled down to just 2 now as Denby Dale collected 8 points from their home against Primrose Hill Lib. The 3rd and 4th placed teams also won but it is only the Denby Dale one that will really count as only two teams seem to be in with a shout of this title this year. A bad-tempered meeting of two relegation-threatened teams at Thongsbridge where their 'B' team met Kirkheaton Con 'B' side and came out 5-4 winners to widen the gap between 2nd and 3rd from bottom teams to 7 points with 2 games to go. Netherton Con 'B' seem anchored to the foot of the table with the latest setback being 1-8 away at Elland C&BC 'B'.

The top three teams in Section 5 are all still in with a chance of the promotion and the title and all lost their matches this week resulting in no change in the order. Leaders Huddersfield Recreation going down 4-5 at Hemplow 'B', second-placed New Mill 'B' losing out 3-6 at Holmfirth 'B' and Marsh Lib failing to reduce the gap to the top two after going down 3-6 at Broad Oak 'B'.

Don't miss our Preview of the Tuesday fixture programme which will detail Section-by-Section who needs what, to win the title, get promotion or avoid relegation. Online on Monday.

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