Six-Man League Monday Preview

Veterans League

Preview of the Veterans 6-Man League fixtures for Spring Bank Holiday Monday

With the top four teams in Division 1 all having home fixtures in the Spring Bank Holiday Monday programme, little change in the running order is expected. Fourth-placed Milnsbridge BC A have the most difficult-looking encounter when they take on fifth-placed Waterloo and could struggle to reduce the gap to the top two teams who both have home matches against mid-table opposition.

Third-placed Broad Oak A have the easiest looking match against Skel Windmill A who will be keen to get out of the relegation places but that may have to wait for another opportunity. With their nearest rival, Shepley A, having a home fixture against the team one place but four points above them in the table, it is difficult to the Skel team's chances of overtaking them this week. However as the Shepley team are still looking for their first win of the season that may not be such a bold target at all.

Bottom-of-the-table Thongsbridge A are also looking for a first win of the 2026 season and home advantage may not be sufficient to claim that against a team that completed a 6-1 win double over them last season.

With the top three teams in Division 2 all on the same 21-points marker things remain very tight. New Mill A are the only one of those top three teams with an away fixture this week and an away trip to play Marsh Lib A will test their potential for a swift return to the top division. Holmfirth A and Lockwood Con will both expect to move up by overtaking the leaders with home fixtures against lowly opponents Brockholes B and Paddock I&C respectively.

Longwood have lost all four of their League matches this season and an away trip to play Almondbury Lib this Monday doesn't promise much of a return either. Longwood along with Golcar Lib A sit in the relegation places. With home advantage, the Golcar side could take some points off Denby Dale and move clear of the drop zone.

Two Division 3 sides are boasting unbeaten records at present and both will be looking to extend those enviable records further this week. Hemplow A top the table by four clear points and have a home match this Monday against 5th placed Marsh Lib. They will be confident, with good reason, of extending their lead at the top. That is because their main rivals, Thongsbridge B, have a tricky trip to play Linthwaite Hall. Realistically, they need a big win to stand a chance of passing the Hemplow team. Realistically, they will do well to win the match and not see the gap extended somewhat.

The teams sitting 3rd and 4th will be rubbing their hands at the opening this could create for them with Crosland Moor and Clayton West B facing up to each other. Home advantage is always a major factor at Crosland Moor, although it didn't count for much last season when the team dropped out of Division 3.

The top two teams in Division 4 have to wait until Friday this week for their weekly doze of bowling and by then they may not be the two top teams. Third-placed Netherton Con B could be the new leaders by then with Marsh United B and Thongsbridge C scrambling around working to catch up thereafter. We shall see.