Veterans League
Preview of the fixtures in the Veterans League Divisions 3,4&5 on Tuesday 24 September
Elland WMC need 3 points from their final home fixture of the Division 3 season to take the title when they play lowly Thorpe Green. Even two 9-0 wins for Denby Dale will probably not be enough to threaten the leaders and they will have to be content in getting one point from their Tuesday fixture against relegation threatened Outlane to secure promotion.
Outlane have a lot on their plate to avoid the drop as they sit in the second relegation place, are 7 points adrift of the team above them and have lost their last 7 matches. Their only comfort being that Thorpe Green have to play the top two teams in the Division which could bring them back into range of being caught however that must seem at present.
Matters are much closer at the top of Division 4 with four teams still in contention for the title and promotion. Lockwood Con B sit in pole position but it is a slender one point lead and with the worse Aggregate For total of the top three teams things look increasingly threatening for them. With their last two fixtures being against top five opponents, one of them being away against a major challenger, Marsh Lib, for honours. The major title threat comes from Marsh United B who have remaining fixtures against two of the bottom four teams.
If the Aggregate For total does come into play then Kirkheaton C&BC are well provided for with the best total of any team in the Division. But it is points that count first and Marsh Lib, although currently sitting in 4th place, could be the fast finishers to scupper the hopes of any of the top four. Their last two matches are away at bottom of the table Lindley BC B and then they have a final day home match against the leaders Lockwood Con B. It seems inevitable that the outcome will continue to the final day when a few things may have already been decided by then.
Lindley BC B are already relegated and it looks likely that either Meltham B or Brockholes B will be joining them come the end of season. Meltham B are 4 points adrift at present and as they have a Marsh United B team pushing for the title as their next opponents then things could be sorted before the final day climax.
The Division 5 title is Netherton Con B's to lose as they have a 9 points lead coming into the final two weeks of the season and with a 9 match unbeaten run behind them have the formbook on their side as well. With matches against two of the bottom five teams lined up it is difficult to see any other outcome.
Second placed David Brown Sports will probably spend more time looking over their shoulder as Dalton mounts a serious challenge for the second promotion place. That could reach a climax on the final day as David Brown Sports have to travel to Dalton for the final showdown. There are 6 points between the two teams now and a much better Aggregate For total for the David Brown boys as added insurance so they have their destiny in their own hands. To keep matters warm Dalton will probably need to win Tuesday's away fixture at Hemplow B whilst David Brown Sports will be aiming to stack up the points from their home fixture against second from bottom Kirkheaton C&BC B.
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