Previewing 30 Tuesday matches

Veterans League

Preview of the Veterans 10-Man League fixtures in all five Divisions for Tuesday 30 June

Lowerhouses continue to set a cracking pace at the head of the Division 1 table and they will expect to extend their 100% home winning record when facing Kirkheaton Con A this Tuesday. They are followed in the table by four teams all with Played-8 Won-4 Lost-4 records and all clouded out by the vapour trail left behind by the leaders.

The two leaders in that pack of four are Rastrick and Lindley Lib A who both finished last season in the bottom half of the table, so two teams on the upward path. This week they play the bottom two teams, who are surprisingly Cowcliffe and Lockwood Con A. Cowcliffe finished last season in fourth place and it looks pretty straightforward where things have changed. The Cowcliffe team has won all three of their home fixtures and lost all 5 of their away matches this season. This Tuesday they are at home to Lindley Lib A so will expect to keep that sequence going.

Lockwood Con A are a long way off the level of results that saw them win seven Division 1 titles on the bounce (2014-2021) and even though many of that team are still playing today they are growing old together, they wouldn't want it any other way. Have they got enough fuel in the tank to carry them through the rest of the season whilst pulling out a set of results to lift them out of the drop zone? Only time will tell.

Elland C&BC and Marsh United A are separated by one point in 4th and 5th positions and face each other this week. Only Lowerhouses have beaten the Elland team on their own green and they will expect to continue that home sequence this week.

There is a good battle at the top of Division 2 table as the top four teams all have Won-6 Lost-2 records this season although they are separated by 5 points. Two of those teams meet each other as the 2nd and 3rd placed teams, Netherton Con A and Lindley BC A, go head-to-head. The leaders, Meltham A, will be hoping that they cancel each other out and that they win their home match against Almondbury BC A to move further ahead.

At the foot of the table the bottom two teams meet as Hemplow A and Broad Oak A look to pull back the gap that has emerged between them and safety. With the two teams immediately above them, Milnsbridge A and Shepley, both having winnable home fixtures it looks bleak for both teams.

Three teams are becoming increasingly adrift from safety at the foot of the Division 3 table with an 8 points gap emerging. Of those three, only one, Holmfirth A, have an away fixture this Tuesday. That is against Golcar Lib B who boast an unbeaten home record to date. The other two teams are Springwood and Paddock I&C with home matches against Skel Windmill and Slaithwaite, respectively.

The leaders are New Mill A and they will expect to pick up the majority of the points against a Kirkheaton C&BC A team that hasn't won an away match at all this season. The 2nd and 4th placed teams meet up at Lindley Lib B where Linthwaite Hall are the visitors. Only the leaders have won at Thorpe Green this season so that is an ominous sign for 3rd in the table Brockholes A who take that trip this week.

An interesting match at the top of the Division 4 table between two teams who came up from Division 5 together. Kirkheaton Con B and Huddersfield RUBC are top and 3rd in the table with one point separating them at present. Marsh Lib A are squashed between them and have a home tie against Meltham B to tackle and could be top by Tuesday tea-time.

There is an important fixture at the foot of the table as bottom team, David Brown Sports, travel to play 3rd from bottom Brockholes B. Sat between those two teams is Marsh United B who have a home match against Milnsbridge B

Dalton have won 4 of their last 5 Division 5 fixtures but have to go to play the leaders, Lindley BC B, this Tuesday. A big ask of the team who are only 5 points off the second promotion place and will be keeping an eye on the other results with 3 of the 5 teams above them also playing away from home.

Five points split the five teams at the foot of the table with four of those teams playing each other so a good opportunity for some to strengthen their hand. The odd one out being bottom team Almondbury BC B who have 2nd in the table Netherton Con B as visitors.