Veterans League
A preview of the 10-Man League fixture programme for Tuesday 16 July
Division 1 leaders Golcar Lib 'A' have a tough away fixture this Tuesday when they travel to play Cowcliffe who have a strong home record but that wont faze the leaders. They ended Rastrick's unbeaten home record in their last away match and whatever happens are unlikely to lose their lead. Second-placed Waterloo are without a match this week and third-placed Kirkheaton Con 'A' are 7 points behind them with a home match against a Lindley Lib 'A' team that has won more points on the road than at home (31-22).
Meltham 'A' have won 7 home matches on the bounce since losing their opening home fixture back in April. However they face the ultimate test this week when Lockwood Con are the visitors who are 9 points behind the leaders but with a game in hand. Lindley BC 'A' are 20 points off safety as they take their quest to find their first away win of the season to Marsh Utd 'A' this Tuesday. Elland C&BC 'A' have slipped from 2nd to the bottom half of the table this month and hope to get back on track this week when they go to Longwood who are hoping that their KO form can be transferred to League points before too much longer.
Milnsbridge 'A' extended their lead at the top of Division 2 to 15 points following a mid-week 6-3 win at Thorpe Green, this being their 'heatwave-delayed' match quickly rearranged. This Tuesday they host Shepley who are looking for their first away win since the opening day of the season and now have 7 consecutive defeats on the road.
The next three teams are separated by just two points and all meet lower-half opponents this week. Lowerhouse's big away win over Almondbury BC 'A' last time out will count for nothing as they travel to play at Lockwood Con 'B' who find themselves back in the relegation places but only 2 points behind Thorpe Green and a game in hand. With only two wins in their last 8 matches, Slaithwaite find themselves flirting with the drop zone and have to go to Almondbury BC 'A' who need a pick-me-up after a surprise 2-7 home loss to Lowerhouses last time out.
New Mill 'A' are staging something of a recovery with 6 wins in their last 7 matches which has lifted the relegation threat almost entirely. However, they have to travel to fourth-placed Netherton Con 'A' who need a win to keep in the promotion mix. Bradley & Colne entertain Thorpe Green and will be looking to put memories of their 0-9 loss at Milnsbridge last time out behind them and reignite their push towards the promotion challenge. Thorpe Green in their current form are the ideal opponents to aid that recovery having lost their last 5 matches and seemingly in free fall.
Broad Oak 'A' with 1 away win in 8 take that record to play bottom of the table Brockholes whilst the two in-form middle of the table teams representing Thongsbridge 'A' and Hemplow 'A' meet up with both having won 4 of their last 5 fixtures.
Holmfirth 'A' could have a real opportunity to close in on the two Division 3 leading teams when they have bottom of the table Marsh United 'B' (no away wins all season) as visitors whilst the top two teams both have away fixtures at top half opponents. Leaders Denby Dale go to Golcar Lib 'B' (lost 3 of their last 4) and Linthwaite Hall will hope to replicate their Bistro form when travelling to Huddersfield Recreation Club who have an unbeaten home record this season.
There is a cluster of four teams pushed together above bottom place and separated by 5 points who meet each other this week and the outcomes could go a long way to determining the team most likely to be at threat of relegation. Lindley Lib 'B' and Almondbury Lib both have Won-2 Lost-2 records from their last 4 matches when they go head-to-head. However home advantage could be key here as the Lindley side have won 4 of their 5 home matches with the Almondbury team only collecting a single win from their 6 away fixtures.
That win was at Springwood who have to go to Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' this week who have the scalps of the top two teams in the division in their last two home fixtures as a pointer to the outcome of this key match. Skel Windmill will complete a run of four consecutive home fixtures when they entertain Paddock I&C this Tuesday. They have won the previous three and a fourth win could elevate them into the promotion bunfight if the leaders flounder on their away days. Paddock are not in the best of form having lost 5 of their last 6 matches following on from an opening run of 6 straight wins from day 1 of the season.
Meltham 'B' played their outstanding 'heatwave' match versus New Mill 'B' on Friday and duly completed a 9-0 whitewash win which took them to the top of the Division 4 table. That status will be seriously under threat this week when they have to travel to play Elland C&BC 'B' (5 wins from 6 home matches). With just a two-point lead which will be examined by 2nd-placed Ravensknowle Park who have lowly Brockholes 'B' as welcome guests. However the Brockholes only 3 wins this season have come in their last 4 matches as they look to turn their season around so anything could happen.
Third-placed Lindley BC 'B' have a 100% home win record and they will be aiming to extend that when the Rugby Club (3 wins in their last 4 matches) come calling this week. The 'B' teams from New Mill and Almondbury BC sit level on 42-points just above the two relegation places. They meet at New Mill this week with the loser inevitably drawn into the relegation battle. Bottom team Thongsbridge 'B' will do well to narrow that four-point gap when they go to Outlane who would banish all thoughts of tottering on the relegation threshold with a good win this week.
Primrose Hill Lib are in a group of three teams on 53-points occupying the 4th, 5th and 6th places. This week they have home advantage over 7th placed Milnsbridge 'B' and maybe a final push to joining the big boys at the top of the division is within their scope with a big home win.
Division 5 leaders, Kirkheaton Con 'B' play their first and only match in July in this fragmented season when travelling to Hemplow 'B' this Tuesday. Second-placed Marsh Lib are even worse off as they don't have a single match in July and sit this week out hoping to still be in contention when their season restarts in August. The teams in 3rd and 4th places meet at Dalton where David Brown Sports are the visitors. Defeat for the visitors would surely leave them too far adrift of the promotion tussle to consider their season finished. Six points separate the bottom 5 teams and the two at the top of that quintet, Greenhead Park and Netherton Con 'B', meet up with pride the main thing to play for at this stage of the season.
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