Veterans League
Preview of the fixtures for Tuesday 6 June in the 10-Man League's Divisions 3,4 & 5
The top five teams in Division 3 have opened a 9-point gap over the chasing pack and the top four of those teams meet each other this Tuesday so we could have a major reshuffle of teams this week. Almondbury Lib are the new table-toppers and they will play third-place Paddock I&C who are just two points behind them. Then 2nd-placed Golcar Lib 'B' will defend their unbeaten home record against 4th-placed Denby Dale who are in a run of playing the other top four teams in their last five matches having lost all three of the previous encounters.
Brockholes 'A' plummeted four places from first to fifth after losing to Lockwood Con 'B' last week. They pick up the pieces from that to begin their recovery with a home fixture against Skel Windmill who have lost their last two matches both against top five teams.
Big match at the other end of the table as well this week when the bottom two face each other at Huddersfield Recreation Club where Meltham 'B' are the visitors and their plight is the most perilous being 10 points behind their Tuesday opponents.
Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' and Lockwood Con 'B' meet each other with both on the brink of the relegation places and one point separating them at present so lots to play for. The mid-table meeting of Slaithwaite at Outlane completes the Division 3 programme.
It is a top versus bottom fixture that catches the eye in Division 4 as leaders Lindley Lib 'B' go to Primrose Hill Lib with both teams needing the points for very different reasons. With just a 3-points lead but having played a match more than the pack of five teams all within striking distance makes every point vital for the leaders.
The top five teams all have 100% home win records but only one of those five has a home fixture this week. That sees 2nd-placed Springwood have home advantage over fellow top five opponents Marsh Lib whilst 3rd in the table Thongsbridge 'B' are away at relegation threatened Lindley BC 'B'.
Ravensknowle Park could find themselves in the relegation places on Tuesday evening as they entertain title challengers Marsh United 'B' knowing that defeat would probably leave them in the drop zone. As they have already played more matches than any other team in the bottom half of the table they are fully aware of the importance of this match. The Huddersfield RUBC versus Almondbury BC 'B' encounter has the ring of a 'mid-table nothing at stake match' but neither team will want to endanger that mid-table status by losing this match.
Division 5 leaders, Milnsbridge 'B', still hold the only unbeaten record in the 10-Man League and that will be strongly threatened this week with a trip to play third-placed Greenhead Park. Sandwiched between those two sits Brockholes 'B' who have a difficult looking commitment at Broad Oak 'B' who will be keen to halt a three-match losing run all against bottom half opponents. This is the start of a three-match run against the top three teams in the division for the Broad Oak 'B' side so it is really important that they get off to a good start and put recent form behind them.
The bottom two teams go head-to-head as the 'B' teams from New Mill and Holmfirth meet up with a 7-points gap separating them and home advantage vital for the New Mill team who need to make a start on closing that gap. Dalton are on a four-match winning spree and will expect to extend that with a home match against Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' this week.
Netherton Con 'B' have won their last two matches and have every chance of continuing that run with a home match against Hemplow 'B' who sit two points behind them and are also in good form after a 6-3 home win over Broad Oak 'B' last week.
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