League News
For the fifth consecutive week the leadership of Section 1 changes again with a resurgent Lockwood Con moving up from third place to take over at the top. An impressive 8-1 home win over Waterloo restored their leadership and no doubt their confidence so everything is back in the mix once again. The other top contenders all lost as Golcar Lib 'A' moved over after a weekend at the top after sitting there following Friday's matches but a Tuesday 3-6 loss at Rastrick put an end to that brief reign. Cowcliffe lost 4-5 at struggling Meltham 'A' where a 124-121 aggregate advantage was key and Elland C&BC 'A' also lost 3-6 at Longwood who move up to fourth place as a result. Elland have a game in hand over the rest of the top half teams and as that is a home fixture it may be sufficient to close the six-point deficit they are behind the leaders. Clayton West won for a third successive match and retain their interest in the proceedings and they have beaten both the current top two this month so are serious contenders. Bottom team Thongsbridge 'A' lost 7-2 at the team just above them, Netherton Con 'A', so the gap to safety grows wider and is now 18 points.
After losing their Section 2 unbeaten record last week Thorpe Green lost again this week going down 3-6 at second-placed Lindley BC 'A' whilst leaders Kirkheaton Con 'A' made it 6 wins out of 6 matches on their travels this time by 7-2 at Almondbury BC 'A' to extend their lead at the top. Last week's vanquishers of Thorpe Green's winning run were vanquished themselves this week as Broad Oak 'A' went down 3-6 at Milnsbridge 'A' but despite that stay third although the top two are starting to develop a gap between themselves and the chasing pack. It was a good day for Paddock I&C as a 7-2 home win over fellow strugglers Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' lifted them off the foot of the table whilst the other two teams in the dropzone, Hemplow 'A' and Lockwood Con 'B' also both lost. That means that only 2 points separate the bottom four teams and all to play for with all four having identical Won-3 Lost-7 playing records.
Slaithwaite recorded a second 9-0 win of the season when overcoming Brockholes 'B' to narrow the gap behind the two leaders. They have the best win record (7-1) in Section 3 having only lost to Lowerhouses who now sit a point above them in second place with a 7-2 away win at bottom team Meltham 'B' preserving their advantage. Leaders Holmfirth 'A' had a struggle to win at lowly Outlane and needed the aggregate points to squeeze past them 5-4 and their lead has been reduced to 3 points. Marsh United 'B' had a good 7-2 home win over Skel Windmill and were the only winners from the bottom half of the table and move up two places to 8th.
Section 4 leaders Denby Dale crushed visitors Milnsbridge 'B' 9-0 for their first whitewash win of the season and extended the League's only 100% win record to 8 matches. They now have a 14-point lead over the second team, Thongsbridge 'B', who beat bottom team Almondbury BC 'B' 7-2. On a day when all 5 games in this section went to the home teams that also meant a first win of the season for Kirkheaton Con 'B' who beat a 7-man Netherton Con 'B' 8-1 and move off the foot of the table as a result with a 1-point better 'Aggregate For' total over Almondbury BC 'B'.
Team raising difficulties also left Section 5 team Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' two men short and that cost them in a 4-5 home defeat at the hands of New Mill 'B' who remain in third place behind the two leaders who clashed this week. That outcome was a decisive 7-2 home win for the Rugby Club over Marsh Lib and they overtake their visitors to go top as a result. That was only a second defeat of the season for Marsh Lib who remain very much in contention despite that setback. Broad Oak 'B' were the only bottom half team to win this week and that was a big 8-1 home victory over bottom team David Brown Sports who won't relish the rematch which takes place next Tuesday.
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