Skel Windmill add title win to their season

Veterans League

Review of the 10-Man League from Divisions 3,4&5 matches played on Tuesday 9 September

Nothing has been decided at the top or bottom of the Division 3 table at present but that is likely to change next week. Almondbury Lib's 6-3 away win at Thorpe Green set them up to complete their promotion push on their own green next Tuesday when they need just two points to clinch the title and promotion when hosting relegation-threatened Marsh Lib A.

Who will be promoted with them is a very different affair with at least four teams, possibly six, still with good chances of claiming the second promotion place. Springwood and Hemplow A are locked together on on 99 points after the Hemplow team racked up a first 9-0 win this season at home to Lockwood Con B. At the same time Springwood were winning 6-3 away at Paddock I&C which keeps them level with the Hemplow team and they play each other at Springwood next Tuesday.

The loser is unlikely to regain that coveted promotion place for now whilst a close result could eliminate both teams from the running with Brockholes A and Linthwaite Hall queueing up behind them. The Brockholes team slipped up dramatically this week dropping from the second promotion place to 4th spot after losing 1-8 away at relegation-threatened Marsh Lib A. Linthwaite Hall edged back into contention after beating Holmfirth A 7-2 at home. That could signal the end of Holmfirth's promotion hopes although they are only 5 points behind the main contenders.

Nothing has been finalised at the foot of the table yet but that 0-9 defeat has seriously damaged Lockwood Con B's survival hopes but that 8-1 win for Marsh Lib A has revived their hopes but their remaining two fixtures are against the top two teams in the table which would be asking a lot of any team.

The four points that Skel Windmill picked up from their visit to play Kirkheaton C&BC A was sufficient to add the Division 4 title to their already completed promotion leaving the Kirkheaton team needing 11 points from their final two fixtures to confirm their promotion as well. A 7-2 home win for Milnsbridge B over Primrose Hill Lib sees them remaining in contention for one more week at least.

A 1-8 away loss at Huddersfield Recreation Club just about calls time on Netherton Con B's one season in Division 4 after their promotion last year but who will be relegated with them remains up for grabs. David Brown Sports could make it a relegation double for last season's promoted pair but Primrose Hill Lib are also very much involved with both teams having to play second-placed Kirkheaton C&BC A.

Kirkheaton Con B and Brockholes B continue to set the pace at the top of the Division 5 table after both clocked up 7-2 home wins this week. Kirkheatton Con B maintained the 4-point gap by beating 4th placed Dalton whilst Brockholes B beat Marsh Lib B. That enabled third-placed Hemplow B to close the gap to 7 points after a 7-2 away success at Holmfirth B and retain hopes of going higher still with two matches left to be played.

The bottom three teams are only fighting for pride in avoiding bottom spot with just one point separating Greenhead Park, Holmfirth B and Almondbury BC B. They all lost their matches this week only collecting a total of five points between them so the avoidance contest will continue to the last 2 weeks of the season.

JJ