No shocks in Julie Fuller Trophy

Veterans League

The outcome of the quarter-finals of the Julie Fuller Trophy was as expected in all four ties with the all-Division 4 meeting of New Mill B and Holmfirth B teams going the way of the latter. Their reward for that is a semi-final tie against the competition favourites and Division 1 leaders Clayton West A. A 13-point handicap start for the underdogs may not be enough to stop the steamroller that is the Clayton West team this season.

That result was one of two disappointing reversals for the New Mill club as their A team, the 2024 winners of this title, were also eliminated at the same stage as they went down 47-60 to Slaithwaite, the 2021 title winners.

Clayton West won this competition in 2022 and remain on course for a repeat of that again this year. A 63-31 win over Almondbury Lib, the first-ever JFT winners in 2001, maintained their challenge for a League & Cup double, which was last achieved by Longwood in 2016.

Thongsbridge have never won this title and they wont be winning it again this year as they were eliminated on Thursday by fellow Division 1 strugglers, Lindley Lib A, the 2018 competition winners. The semi-finals draw is below and we await the allocation of neutral venues to be added later.