League News
A topsy-turvy day as the bottom half teams in Section 1 outperformed their higher placed opponents to keep matters very interesting at both ends of the table. Lockwood Con 'A' won 6-3 and Elland C&BC 'A' lost 6-3 with the outcome being that both teams are locked together at the top of the table where a difference of just 17 aggregate points (1525-1508) gives Lockwood the advantage today. Both teams will be disappointed with their results as Lockwood had home advantage over the bottom side who hadn't picked up more than 2 points in an away game this season to date. Elland need to be winning against teams like Crosland Moor who sit third from bottom if they intend to push the reigning Champions all the way. Those results should have presented a golden opportunity for third-placed Longwood to sneak into contention but that didn't happen either as they went down at home to Golcar Lib 'A' 3-6 who moved third as a result. Defeats for Clayton West and Cowcliffe completed a miserable day for teams in the top half of the table with only 2 of the 7 winning this week. Thongsbridge's good performance and 3 added points didn't improve their league standing and they remain in a relegation position along with Netherton Con 'A' who lost 3-6 at Lindley Lib 'A'. With the 5 teams immediately above the bottom two all winning their matches this week things are beginning to look bleak for the bottom two and as we approach the halfway point of the season some teams will be getting concerned about their predicaments but for the rest of us, it keeps the neutral interest going at both ends fo the table.
Kirkheaton Con 'A' won 9-0 for the fourth time this season and extended their Section 2 winning away run to 7 matches when winning at bottom team Paddock I&C. They were helped when the teams in 2nd and 3rd places met at Lindley BC 'A' where the home team were caught out by their visitors from Broad Oak 'A' and a 3-6 reversal left the two teams level on points but 15 behind the leaders. Lindley BC 'A' were the only losers in the top half of the table which saw Thorpe Green beat Shepley at home 6-3 to move closer and they are now just a point behind the 2nd and 3rd placed teams. Home wins for Almondbury BC 'A' (8-1 v Hemplow 'A'), New Mill 'A' (8-1 v Brockholes 'A'), Bradley & Colne (5-4 v Lockwood Con 'B') and a 9-0 whitewash win for Milnsbridge 'A' over Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' completed the picture.
It is all change in Section 3 where last week's table-toppers, Holmfirth 'A' lost 2-7 at third-placed Slaithwaite who go second as a result but both are behind new leaders Lowerhouses after they won 6-3 away at bottom team Outlane. Golcar Lib 'B' are the Section's form team winning their last four matches including the latest with a 7-2 home win over Skel Windmill although the aggregates scores were much closer 116-115 to the home side. Lindley Lib 'B' moved out of the relegation places after winning 5-4 away at Brockholes 'B' and leaving Marsh United 'B' in the drop zone after losing 1-8 at Almondbury Lib.
A 7-2 defeat away at Ravensknowle Park was costly for Lindley BC 'B' as they slipped out of a Section 4 promotion place to 4th as Thongsbridge 'B' and Huddersfield Recreation Club passed them after both clocked up 7-2 wins. That suited leaders Denby Dale who were without a game as they delayed their recovery from a first loss of the season the previous week but still retain a 7-point lead. Almondbury BC 'B' inflicted that first defeat on Denby Dale last week which moved them off the bottom of the table and they continued that good form with a 7-2 away win at bottom team Kirkheaton Con 'B' to continue their climb out of the danger zone.
David Brown Sports made it two Section 5 wins on the bounce when beating Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' on their own turf 8-1 to swap places at the bottom with them but the focus goes higher as leaders Marsh Lib surprisingly lost a first home match of the season when going down 3-6 to New Mill 'B'. That enabled Huddersfield Rugby Club to go clear at the top of the table following their 6-3 home win over Greenhead Park who were losing for the first time in their last 4 matches. Hemplow 'B' beat Holmfirth 'B' 6-3 to edge just past them on a better Aggregate For total but with just 6 points between the bottom 5 teams it is still too close to call.
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