Top 2 race clear as both win 7-2

Veterans League Review of the Veterans 10-Man League matches played on Tuesday 19 April

The new order continues to set the pace at the top of the Division 1 table as the newly-promoted Kirkheaton Con 'A' and a rejuvenated Marsh United 'A' both recorded 7-2 home wins this week to open a 6-point gap over the chasing pack. The Marsh outfit inflicted a second defeat on Champions Lockwood Con 'A' who sit uncomfortably, and probably only temporarily, at the foot of the table. Kirkheaton Con saw off third-placed Golcar Lib 'A' to make the perfect start to life at the top table. Both of the leading pair of teams have benefitted from the demise of Crosland Moor as they have welcomed two of those displaced teammates into their ranks and both have started regularly and contributed to the initial success of both teams.

The league table continues to show a disjointed appearance with last season's top two teams continuing to occupy the bottom two places although Elland C&BC 'A' did get a win under their belts this week with a 6-3 success at Cowcliffe. Meltham and Longwood also entered the week looking for their first wins with home matches lined up but with very different outcomes. Meltham opened their season's account with a 6-3 victory over Lindley Lib 'A' which was a real tonic for the Meltham team especially as that result hid a top Division 1 aggregate total of the week of 139. Meanwhile, Longwood suffered a third defeat going down 3-6 to Waterloo who move into third position as a result.

Lindley BC 'A' collected four points from their trip to Rastrick with two of those points coming from pairs games wins to 20 which contributed to the home team being able to claim the aggregate bonus points.

The poor start to the season for Lockwood Con 'A' is matched by the club's 'B' team in Division 2 with both teams still looking for their first wins after the 'B' side lost for the third time when going down 4-5 to Slaithwaite who collected the aggregate with a 117-113 scoreline. Brockholes 'A' won for the first time this year with a 5-4 home win over Lowerhouses and collected the bonus aggregate points with a 121-116 advantage. Although winning they remain firmly rooted at the foot of the table although level on points with Lockwood Con 'B' they are one adrift on the deciding 'Aggregate For' total by 321-320. Milnsbridge BC continue to head the table with a 7-2 home win over Thorpe Green sufficient to shake off Shepley who went down to a shock away 1-8 defeat at Netherton Con who were winning for the first time this season. Replacing Shepley as the main threat is Hemplow 'A' who won for the third time after toppling a 9-man Bradley & Colne team on their own green by 6-3.

New Mill 'A' lost 1-8 away at Almondbury BC 'A' to add to the 0-9 scoreline from their previous away match and an 8-1 home win wedged in between those matches. Thongsbridge 'A' finally mustered a win when inflicting a first defeat of the season on Broad Oak 'A' by 7-2 and drawing level on points with them and firmly entrenched in mid-table.

Division 3 leaders Denby Dale suffered a 2-7 away defeat at Huddersfield Recreation Club and a drop to 4th place which opened the way for the new boys from LInthwaite Hall to go top and justify their elevation to this level this season. They made it three wins from their opening three matches with the latest being a 7-2 away win at Skel Windmill who now sit with a trio of teams at the foot of the table looking for their first wins of the season.

The other two being Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' who lost 3-6 at home to Holmfirth 'A' and Marsh United 'B' who suffered a 0-9 whitewash loss at Lindley Lib 'B'. That was a first win of the season for the Lindley team which moved them up three places in the table. That win for Holmfirth 'A' moved them up two places to second passing Paddock I&C on the way despite them collecting a third straight win with a 6-3 home success over Springwood this time.

It is good to see the League's only two Park teams heading their respective divisions as Ravensknowle Park continue to set the standard in Division 4 with a 7-2 home win over Thongsbridge 'B' extending their unbeaten start to the season to three matches. Outlane take closer order with a 8-1 home win over Milnsbridge 'B' moving them up to second place and passing New Mill 'B' on the way. A surprise 3-6 home defeat was the first loss of the season for the New Mill team and a first win of the season for their conquerors, Primrose Hill Lib.

A rampant Elland C&BC 'B' team performance gave them a 9-0 home win over the Rugby Club and put them third, level on 17-points with fourth-placed Lindley BC 'B' who beat Brockholes 'B' 7-2. Meltham 'B' inflicted a third successive defeat on Almondbury BC 'B' when seeing them off by 6-3 to leave the visitors along with Brockhole 'B' in the relegation places.

Greenhead Park took advantage of Dalton having a bye week to go top of the Division 5 table with a 6-3 home win over Kirkheaton C&BC 'B'. Broad Oak 'B' moved up into second place after winning 6-3 at home to Kirkheaton Con 'B' squeezing the aggregate bonus points with a 122-121 scoreline. Marsh Lib remain unbeaten after winning 6-3 away at Hemplow 'B'. Another close aggregate scoreline separated the teams 129-127 in the Holmfirth 'B' v David Brown Sports fixture with the home team pinching the points 5-4 and a first win of the season.