Veterans League
Preview of the Veterans 6-Man League fixtures scheduled for Monday 7 August 2023
This could be an important week in the race for the Division 1 title of the 6-Man League this season. Gocar C&BC in third place are at home to top of the table Marsh United 'A' with 8 points between the teams. The home team are in good form having won their last 5 matches and with 4th placed Shepley 'A' as their next week's opponents it is clearly an important couple of weeks in the title race. First they have to see off the leaders who have only lost two matches all season but crucially those were both away matches against mid-table opposition.
Skel Windmill 'A' in second place will be looking to narrow, if not eliminate, the 4 points gap between them and the leaders. They host a Netherton Con team that have lost their way a little after a 6-match winning start to the season but the Skel side are on their own 8-match winning run and will be confident of a win but will it be big enough to nudge them into top spot?
After two close attempts will this be the week that Elland C&BC score their first win of the season when they host a Crosland Moor team that has lost 6 of its last 7 matches and hasn't won an way match all season?
Difficult away matches for Longwood and Lockwood Con this Monday could result in them being dragged deeper into the relegation battle whilst the Brockholes 'A' v Milnsbridge 'A' fixture already has the look of an end of season meaningless mid-table match, except if you play for one of those teams who will surely be going all out for a win regardless of their current standing.
Slaithwaite will be looking to take their Division 2 winning run into double figures when they go to play Clayton West this Monday. Clayton West have only won of their last 5 matches but that was last time out and against 2nd-placed Lindley Lib 'A' on their own turf so will be looking to add a second top-two scalp to their collection. Slaithwaite have an 11-points lead at the top so there is more interest in the race for the second promotion place currently held by Lindley Lib 'A'. They will be keen to redeem themselves after that shock home defeat by Clayton West but have to go to play Holmfirth 'A' who lost narrowly last week at Almondbury Lib by 4-5 after a 74-74 aggregate draw.
The teams in 3rd and 4th places play each other at Paddock I&C where Golcar Lib are the visitors. Fifth placed Lindley Lib 'B' have home advantage over lowly Skel Windmill 'B' and will be expecting a big win which would put them back in the promotion picture. Linthwaite Hall and Almondbury Lib are just above the relegation places and will be keen to drop Monday's rival deeper into the drop pool when they meet this week. Both teams have two wins in their last six fixtures so things look fairly even. One step up sit Milnsbridge 'B' who entertain bottom team Denby Dale and will be keen to retain the gap between themselves and the bottom four.
Division 3 leaders Marsh Lib have to wait until this week's Friday fixture at Thongsbridge 'C' to consolidate their presence at the top of the table. With 2nd placed New Mill five points behind them and with a difficult home fixture against 4th placed Thongsbridge 'B' that lead may still be intact before they set a foot on the green. Third placed Marsh United 'B' will expect to win their home match against bottom of the table Shepley 'B' to offer a continuous threat to the top two.
Hemplow have lost their last three matches, two of them at home, so will want to stop the rot when they visit Meltham but that will not be easy as the home side have won 2 of their last 3 matches including wins over both Thongsbridge teams. Should Greenhead Park win their home match with Holmfirth 'B' then that will give them their best winning run of the season - four straight wins - which will put them in good form ready for their trip to play the leaders the following Monday.
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