Veterans League News
Review of the 6-Man League matches played on 27 September 2021
Going into the final day of the Veterans 6-Man League season and it was no surprise to see Paddock I&C firmly positioned in the Section A relegation places as they had been all season. Six points adrift of safety and one match to play, things didn't look good. However a final day 7-0 home win over bottom team Oakfield T&BC triggered hopes of survival at the top table. This being their first 7-0 whitewash win of the season and it couldn't have come at a better time as their nearest rivals, Longwood, went down 1-6 away at Netherton Con to put them on equal points with Paddock. A better 'Aggregate For' total (1425-1323) saving Paddock and condemning Longwood to the drop. Lindley Lib lost 2-5 at home to Brockholes 'A' but those 2 points were sufficient to just keep the Lindley boys out of the relegation picture as well.
More celebrations at the top of the Section A table as Shepley 'A' easily acquired the two points they needed to claim the Section A title, in fact they got six points to have a four-point winning gap over Netherton Con who won 6-1 at home to Longwood which enabled them to claim the Runners-Up spot ahead of Thongsbridge 'B'.
Honley Con and Golcar C&BC continued their season-long private battle for the Section B title as both won their final matches of the season and fittingly finished on the same 79 points total with the Honley team having the better 'Aggregate For' total (1499 to 1466) to take the top spot and the title. A final day 6-1 away win for Skel Windmill 'B' over Marsh United confirmed the third-place finish over their match rivals. Issues at the foot of the table had been resolved prior to this week and Primrose Hill Lib and Golcar Lib will start the 2022 season in a lower section with an opportunity to regroup and re-establish themselves.
Slaithwaite and Holmfirth 'A' went into the final week safe in the knowledge that they were both already promoted and the title was going to Slaithwaite. They were relaxed enough to both record final day Section C away wins to emphasise their superiority at this level and bigger challenges await them next season no doubt. Hemplow's 6-1 away win at Almondbury Lib enabled them to inch above their opponents into 3rd place in the final Section table. With Shepley 'A' winning the top Section title the club neatly book-ended the League tables with their 'B' team collecting the Wooden Spoon but no doubt fully enjoying their season without interruptions this year as we all did.
ROLL OF HONOUR 2021
Section A Champions; Shepley 'A'
Runners-Up: Netherton Con
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Section B Champions: Honley Con Runners-Up: Golcar C&BC
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Section C Champions: Slaithwaite
Runners-Up: Holmfirth 'A'
RELEGATED
Section A: Oakfield T&BC, Longwood
Section B: Primrose Hill Lib, Golcar Lib
Section C Wooden Spoon: Shepley 'B'