Veterans League
A preview of the fixtures in the 10-Man League for Tuesday 24 May
Focus this week turns to matters at the foot of most Division's tables as there are some interesting clashes lined up in three of the divisions that could be highly influential on the relegation outcomes in those divisions. Starting with Division 1 where the first Lindley derby match of the season has added significance with both teams in the bottom three at present.
That bottom 3 are already 6 points adrift of the next team so are in danger of creating their own mini-league for the rest of the season. Just 1 point separates these 3 teams with Lindley BC 'A' at the foot but having home advantage over the Lindley Lib 'A' side who sit just above the two relegation places at present.
The Lib have played one more match than their two closest rivals so cannot afford to lose out to their neighbours who always have a strong home record and have played 4 of their first 6 matches away from home so will be expecting to begin their revival with this fixture.
Squashed in between the two Lindley teams are Longwood who have lost all 6 of their matches this season and things don't get any easier for them as they welcome the league leaders, Marsh United 'A', to their Dodlee Lane green this Tuesday.
Golcar Lib 'A' are the only top five team playing at home this week and they will aim to take full advantage of that with Clayton West as their visitors who really need to kick-start their season after some indifferent results to date. Kirkheaton Con 'A' will look to repair the damage done of two consecutive defeats when they travel to play sixth-placed Cowcliffe who have won their last two matches.
Lockwood Con 'A' will be aiming to extend their current winning run to five matches when they go to Waterloo and Elland C&BC 'A' will look to bounce back from last week's defeat at Marsh United when Meltham are their guests this week.
Both Brockholes 'A' and Thongsbridge 'A' have had disappointing starts to their Division 2 seasons and currently both sit in the bottom four places. Four years ago both teams were in Division 1 and now they are fighting for Division 2 survival as they meet up in a match that the Brockholes team cannot afford to lose if they are to hold any hope of staying at this level for another season.
Lockwood Con 'B' have Milnsbridge 'A' the Division leaders as visitors and they are having a great season winning 6 of their first 7 matches to date whereas Lockwood have a single win to their name so far. That record means that the Lockwood 'B' side is stuck in the second relegation place with one win in their first seven.
Second-placed Almondbury BC 'A' has won all three of their home matches this season but their strongest opponents to date will turn up this week when they entertain Netherton Con 'A' who sit in fourth place in the table. Ninth-placed Hemplow 'A' have the same Won-5 Lost-2 season record as the second placed Almondbury team and will be aiming to reduce that gap when they travel to play Shepley this week who sit one point above them.
Two top six teams meet when Lowerhouses host a Bradley & Colne side that leads the chasing pack of 4 teams separated by one point but in danger of losing the coat-tails of the top two. Slaithwaite are also in that pack and will wonder which Thorpe Green team will turn up this week although they have been consistent when losing all their away matches to date.
They are followed by another pack of four teams who all play each other this week as Braoad Oak 'A' have home advantage over New Mill 'A' and Shepley and Hemplow 'A' both on 32 points meet each other as well.
Another relegation battle features on the Division 3 fixture programme as the bottom two teams meet when Marsh United 'B' host Springwood with the two teams collecting one win between them this season. Springwood are on a run of three consecutive 3-6 defeats whilst Marsh United will view this home match as their best chance of registering their first win of the season.
Third from bottom Almondbury Lib host Paddock I&C as the unbeaten league leaders aiming for an upset. Two points behind the leaders are Linthwaite Hall and Holmfirth 'A' and both have difficult home fixtures this week against Denby Dale and Huddersfield Recreation Club respectively who sit 4th and 5th in the latest table. The next four teams in the table all square up against their nearest opponents as Golcar Lib 'B' (6th) go to meet Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' (7th) and Lindley Lib 'B' (8th) play Skel Windmill (9th).
Bottom of the Division 4 table is Brockholes 'B' without a win to date and unlikely, on present form, to dent the unbeaten home record of the Rugby Club this Tuesday. The two teams trying to avoid the second relegation place are the 'B' teams of Milnsbridge and Almondbury BC and both will be looking for their 2nd win in 6 when they meet up this week, only one of the two will achieve that.
Elland C&BC 'B' are the Division 4 leaders and their match at Outlane has been put back to 16 June for some unexplained reason. That presents Ravensknowle Park with the opportunity to return to the top spot when they go to play New Mill 'B' who have only won one of their three home matches this season.
Lindley BC 'B' remain without a win on the road and will do well to change that at Primrose Hill Lib this week who in turn will be looking to pass their nearest opponents in the table and take over 4th place. That just leaves Thongsbridge 'B' v Meltham 'B' to complete the Division 4 fixture programme for this week.
As usual there are just 4 matches in Division 5 this week with Greenhead Park and Hemplow 'B' bowlers on gardening leave. The leading two teams both having home matches to look forward to. Leaders Marsh Lib have David Brown Sports as visitors and Dalton take on previous leaders Broad Oak 'B'. Kirkheaton Con 'B' play for the first time in 4 weeks when Holmfirth 'B' are the visitors to the 'postage stamp' green and Netherton Con 'B' could return to a top two position that a big home win over lowly Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' could bring.