Veterans League
A preview of the 10-Man League fixture programme for Tuesday 5 July
No Division 3, 4 or 5 fixtures this week as their focus is on the 2nd Round of the Sub-Team Knock-Out previewed here later today. The Division 1 and 2 fixtures are a reverse of the opening day programme and Lockwood Con's hold on top spot in Division 1 is very much under threat as they are without a match. Golcar Lib will very much fancy collecting the 3 points that would take them back to the top when they host Longwood this Tuesday. After a disastrous start to the season when they lost their first six matches, Longwood have recovered to win 3 of their last 4 matches albeit against teams now below them in the table.
Being 15 points adrift at the bottom of the table at the halfway point needn't be the end of the season for the two Lindley teams but they will need to start winning soon to stop that gap from becoming a final nail in the coffin. Both have home matches this week against teams in spitting distance of the top spot and designs on doing just that.
Fifth-placed Cowcliffe have won their last 5 matches and will look to complete a double over Lindley BC 'A' this week. Similarly Rastrick will need to complete a double over Lindley Lib 'A' if they are to narrow the 7-point gap to the top of the table and retain any title aspirations. Elland C&BC 'A' and Waterloo are both in the title mix and the outcome of the teams meeting may determine which of them is to launch the stronger challenge.
Marsh United 'A' and Kirkheaton Con 'A' both had good starts to the season and both topped the table for a time and both will be looking to repeat those opening results as the early season fixtures are repeated. Both are away this week against teams they beat on the opening day. Marsh United go to Clayton West and Kirkheaton Con to Meltham looking for away wins to reignite their title challenges. Meltham haven't been beaten at home since their first home match of the season and will be looking to avenge a 1-8 opening day defeat at Kirkheaton.
The top three teams in Division 2 all have away fixtures this week and all play teams in the lower half of the division. Leaders Milnsbridge 'A' are at New Mill 'A' who have won all of their 6 home fixtures to date. Almondbury BC 'A' are in second place and 5 points behind the leaders and have the easier looking fixture of the competing teams when going to meet the fading Thorpe Green team who have lost 4 of their last 5 matches and are really in a relegation battle from here on. Completing the top trio are Netherton Con 'A' who have to go to Hemplow 'A' where only the leaders have left with a win from the first 7 visitors this season.
Brockholes 'A' appear doomed being 20 points adrift at the bottom and the real interest is which team is going to go down with them. Thorpe Green and Lockwood Con 'B' are locked together on 45 points some 9 points behind the next nearest team which is Slaithwaite. The Lockwood Con team won't relish travelling to Broad Oak after losing 3-6 to them at home on the opening day of the season. Slaithwaite have slipped down the table with only one win in their last six fixtures and will not be enthused by a trip to play a Lowerhouses team still retaining hopes of a promotion place and currently in 5th place but only 7 points off a promotion spot.
Bradley & Colne will hope to repeat their opening day win over Thongsbridge 'A' who are now a different team with two wins and a narrow 4-5 defeat away to the leaders last week showing much better form. However Bradley & Colne have recovered from their losing home start to the season by winning their last 5 home matches which is much more in keeping with their usual record and they have the incentive to stay among the leading group and only 2 points off a promotion place. Shepley could use their home match against the bottom of the table Brockholes 'A' as a lever to relaunch a drive into the top half of the table.
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