Waterloo go top of Division 1

Veterans League

Review of the results in the Veterans 6-Man League for Monday 25 August

There are new leaders at the top of the Division 1 table as a 6-1 away win at Netherton Con A pushed them up two places to take over at the top. With Clayton West going down 1-6 at Shepley A it has opened up the title chase with Shepley reminding themselves that they could still join in the top table bun-fight. Marsh United A go second after winning 5-2 away at bottom team New Mill A as Clayton West drop two places to third. Realistically the title is likely destined for one of the current top three teams but with only 3-points between them the door remains open for the strongest finisher.

The foot of the table clamour to stay up has dragged Thongsbridge A into the relegation mix. Losing 2-5 to bottom team Brockholes A enables the winners move up a place and overtake New Mill A whist the Thongsbridge team sit one place and one-point above the relegation places. So plenty to look forward to over the final weeks of the season.

With almost a replica of the Division 1 situation the top three teams in Division 2 shuffle around with the top team dropping two places to third spot. That came about after the leaders, Holmfirth A, went down 1-6 at Golcar Lib who did themselves a power of good to move up two places to 4th spot reminding the top three that things can change very quickly if you drop the pace. Lindley Lib A were the main beneficiaries of Holmfirth A's fall when they won 6-1 at home over Crosland Moor. However none of the leading pack can ignore the claims of Broad Oak who sit second, level on points with the new leaders but with a match in hand over the teams immediately above and below them.

There was some minor shuffling in the bottom region as well as Paddock I&C had an unexpected win over Marsh Lib B to propel themselves up a place to 8th position. A surprise 6-1 home win for bottom team Thongsbridge B improved their confidence if not their position in the table where a 17 points shortfall to safety still seems a lot too many to be a realistic target.

Almondbury Lib maintain their 12 point lead at the top of the Division 3 table but it was far from a convincing performance. A 5-2 home win over mid-table Marsh Lib B on the back of a 90-89 aggregate scoreline to get them over the line. That points total was matched by Milnsbridge B who won away at Greenhead Park A and they tightened their grip on the second promotion place as a result.

It is tighter at the foot of the table with 4 points between the bottom three teams with two of them nailed on for relegation, but which two? Wins for two of the teams with Hemplow A defying the odds to complete a 5-2 away win over Linthwaite Hall. Elland C&BC also won when beating Lindley Lib B at home by the same 5-2 scoreline and Holmfirth B just missed out on another win going down 3-4 at home to Denby Dale by the narrowest of 86-87 aggregate scorelines.

The six home teams in Division 4 all won their matches on Monday and by the same 6-1 scoreline. That means minimal changes in the order in the top half of the table as only Netherton Con B were among the losing teams and they drop from 3rd to 5th after a 1-6 defeat at Meltham who move above them in the updated table.

That also means that the leaders Hemplow B retain their 19-points lead with four teams vying for the second promotion spot. Of those four Marsh United A have played two more fixtures than their two prime rivals for that coveted second place. That leaves Skel Windmill B and Clayton West B as the two challengers for that slot although if Netherton Con B can recover from this week's defeat, then they could still feature in that chase.

With the bottom four teams all being on the wrong end of those 1-6 scorelines nothing has changed in the running order.