Veterans League
Preview of fixtures for Tuesday 25 July in Divisions 3, 4 & 5 of the 10-Man League
The Division 3 promotion places are held by Golcar Lib 'B' and Almondbury Lib who go head-to-head this Tuesday. The teams have identical records over the last 8 matches played Won 7 Lost 1. Impressive. What is even more impressive is the Almondbury Lib away record of winning all 6 of their matches this season, a record not equalled in any division. Is that record about to end? It will certainly be tested at Golcar where the home team has a 100% win record. One of those records will go this week.
The two teams chasing the leaders will hope to peg back one of the leaders and open up the promotion race and both have away fixtures to negotiate first before looking upwards. Denby Dale have to go to play Lockwood Con 'B' whose KO competition feats need to infiltrate their League form to produce a spark of hope in their battle against a second consecutive relegation. Fourth-placed Brockholes 'A' have a more difficult-looking clash at Kirkheaton C&BC 'A' who have only been beaten by Almondbury Lib in their last 7 matches.
The relegation battle continues and if it is to be four teams relegated this year then that battle seems to extend to the bottom six teams at present. Four of those teams face similarly positioned opponents this week with Slaithwaite's one-point advantage over visitors Skel Windmill less meaningful than the fact that both teams have lost their last two matches and need to get their game back on track or the reality of a relegation threat will surely materialise. Huddersfield Recreation have won their last three home fixtures whilst their visitors, Outlane, have lost their last three away games and the nine points up for grabs are vital to both
Meltham 'B' are not in the form or position to think anything other than that they are in a perilous position and the visit of Paddock I&C team this Tuesday is unlikely to offer any easy pickings as the visitors have lost their last three matches and need a win to get their season focused on a return to the top slot they enjoyed not so long ago.
The Marsh derby Division 4 clash sees both teams meeting on the back of losing their last match to the leaders Lindley Lib 'B'. Who recovers best from that will decide the outcome of this match. Marsh Lib's 100% home record plus the fact that they won the early season match between the two teams will give them the edge but the United team is in a better position in the table with a greater incentive to perform and feature more prominently in the race for honours. That hope will not be aided by the fact that the top two teams both have home matches this week with Lindley Lib 'B' hosting Thongsbridge 'B' and Springwood entertaining the Rugby Club.
With the likelihood of three teams being relegated from Division 4 at the end of the season one doesn't have to look any further than the current bottom three to visualise the same situation at the end of September. Two of those three teams meet this week when Primrose Hill Lib welcome Kirkheaton Con 'B' with just two points between them at present. Squashed between them is Ravensknowle Park who host Lindley BC 'B' who have won 4 of their last 5 fixtures so turn up in good heart but the Park have only won 3 games all season but crucially two of those being their last two matches so they will be up for it as well.
The Division 5 leaders, Milnsbridge 'B' have the day off this week and that may be no bad thing for them. Two defeats in the week behind them - one at home in the League and the other in the Quarter-Finals of the Bistro KO - may signal that a rest would be really timely before gathering their forces to tackle the run-in to the end of the season.
Brockholes 'B' are 8 points adrift of the leaders and with a home match against Kirkheaton C&BC 'B' to look forward to and a target of closing that gap in mind could prove to be a strong incentive for them. Greenhead Park are on the same points total as the Brockholes side and away from home visiting Netherton Con 'B' would settle for equalling the Brockholes result this week. Broad Oak 'B' and David Brown Sports are close behind the leading three and level on 60 points. The winner will push themselves into promotion contention so the stakes are high.
New Mill 'B' and Dalton are both off the pace a touch but will no doubt enjoy their meeting but will do well to keep in mind that Holmfirth 'B' and Hemplow 'B' are just behind them and as they meet each other this Tuesday one of them is going to come away with another win to add to their record.
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