Veterans 6-Man League Review of matches played on Monday 4 April 2022
Shepley 'A' began the defence of their Division 1 title by losing away at Crosland Moor in the closest scoreline of the opening day of the 6-man season. Collecting the double over the same opponents last season was no comfort today but provides an indication of better times ahead for Crosland Moor. Shepley won the game score 3-2 but missed out on the extra 2 points for the better aggregate by 95-97 leaving them off the pace as three teams clocked up 6-1 wins to head the first table of the season.
Differing fortunes for the two promoted teams as Golcar C&BC lost away at Longwood 1-6 whilst Honley Con collected a 5-2 away win at Milnsbridge BC. The decision to start new boys Linthwaite Hall in the top division was thrown into doubt by their opening day home defeat to returning Lockwood Con as a 1-6 scoreline enabled the returning former Champions to become day 1 joint leaders.
Sitting above them are last year's runners-up Netherton Con who top the table on a better aggregate after beating Lindley Lib 'A' 6-1. Last season's 3rd placed Thongsbridge 'B' beat Brockholes 'A' to open their 2022 account to complete the Division 1 story.
Slaithwaite quickly settled to the higher level of Division 2 with an emphatic opening day whitewash win over Meltham to go clear at the top of the first table report. Chris Sykes continued the form that took him to the top of the Division 3 averages last season with the top individual score of the day when winning his singles game 21-3. Without two of their regular singles bowlers from last season, we can only expect Slaithwaite to become even more formidable opponents as the season progresses.
Paddock I&C dropped out of the top division last season but had no hangover as they had a good win over Skel Windmill 'B' who finished third last year so a really good opening day statement from them. Better starts for last season's 4th and 5th placed teams as Marsh United 'A' and Clayton West had good opening day 6-1 wins with the Marsh outfits win away at New Mill catching the eye.
Greenhead Park will have been disappointed not to have had a brighter return to the 6-Man League after a 3 year sabbatical when going down 0-7 away at Almondbury Lib. They weren't the only whitewash losers in Division 3 this week as Thongsbridge 'A' also started very brightly away at Brockholes 'B' to head the first league table of the year in front of Almondbury Lib.
Marsh Lib and Golcar Lib both started the new season well to build on the promise of last year with two good wins. Marsh Lib had a 6-1 home win over Primrose Hill Lib and only failed to collect a 7-0 win by losing the other game 20-21. Golcar Lib shrugged off last season's relegation to strike a positive note when winning 5-2 away at Shepley 'B' and Marsh United 'B' started life in the 6-man competition by losing out on the aggregate to go down 3-4 at home to Holmfirth 'B'
A detailed review of the top individual and team scorers of the opening day will appear online over the weekend along with the Sunday preview of the Week 2 fixture programme. The best coverage of all Veterans League matches can only be found on HuddWeb every week throughout the season.
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