Veterans League
Review of Monday's results in the 6-Man League
Monday's headlines
Slaithwaite extend lead at top of Division 1
First wins for both Shepley teams
Crosland Moor beaten at home and go bottom
Whitewash defeat for Division 2 leaders Marsh Lib
Clayton West are new Division 2 leaders
Big away win for Golcar Lib sends them 2nd
Brockholes B extend Division 3 lead to 6 points
No game but unbeaten Denby Dale drop 3 places
Shepley B climb off the foot of the table
The top three teams in Division 1 all had away fixtures this week but only one of the three won. That was the leaders Slaithwaite and that enabled them to open up a three-points gap at the top. A 5-2 success over Lockwood Con whilst Skel Windmill A and Brockholes A were losing at Milnsbridge BC A and Paddock I&C saw the Colne Valley team confirm their leading status.
Lindley Lib A took advantage of the failure of the two losers to move into contention and take 2nd place after a 5-2 home win over Netherton Con. Reigning Champions, Marsh United A, appear to be overcoming their first day defeat with a third straight win which saw them move up two positions to fourth spot. That was a 5-2 win over Golcar C&BC who were runners-up last season but they are some way off that form with only one win in four this term.
Shepley A had a first win of the season as they won on the road by 5-2 at Thongsbridge A which took them off the bottom-of-the-table. That place goes to Crosland Moor who lost 2-5 at home to Waterloo but they are only one-point behind the three teams immediately above them so things remain very tight there.
In Division 2 the leaders, Marsh Lib A ,were humbled with the day's only 7-0 scoreline which was a first defeat of the season and cost them the leadership. That surprise result was inflicted by Bradley & Colne who seem to be coming to terms with their new base in the 6-Man League. A 6-1 home win for Clayton West over Lindley Lib B took them to the top of the table with the only remaining unbeaten record in the division New Mill drop from 2nd to 4th after a 2-5 home loss to Golcar Lib who go second and become the biggest threat to the new leaders.
There were two close 4-3 scorelines in the division's results with a 86-85 aggregate win for Milnsbridge BC B primarily responsible for their win at Linthwaite Hall. Hemplow being the other 4-3 winners when they took home advantage and a better 92-86 aggregate score to see off the visiting Longwood team. With Holmfirth A and Almondbury Lib both having comfortable 6-1 home wins over Greenhead Park A and Elland C&BC respectively to leave the two losers in the bottom two slots. That leaves Greenhead Parl already looking at an immediate return to Division 3 whilst Elland C&BC could be facing a second successive relegation. A long way to go yet but it can never be too soon to break a losing habit.
Denby Dale were without a Division 3 fixture this week and that cost them 2nd place as they dropped 3 places to 5th after the five teams around them all won their matches. They remain one of two unbeaten teams in the division so one would expect them to bounce back fairly rapidly. The other unbeaten record belongs to Brockholes A who continue to set a hot pace at the top. A 5-2 home win over Thongsbridge B enabled the Badgers to extend their lead at the top from 2-points to an ominous six which is the biggest lead in any of the three divisions.
With 6-1 home wins for Skel Windmill B (over Marsh United B) and Marsh Lib B (over Holmfirth B) pushed the two winning teams just behind the leaders. That defeat for the Holmfirth B side saw them drop to the bottom of the table but level on points with a Meltham side that lost 2-5 at home to the Brockholes C team. There was a first win of the season for Shepley B beating visitors Primrose Hill Lib by 5-2. It was a good day for Shepley as both their teams recorded identical 5-2 first wins of the season which was sufficient to lift both of them off the bottom of their respective divisions. Greenhead Park B will be disappointed to have lost 2-5 at home to Thongsbridge C which brought the two teams in range of each other.
It is the opening round of the Julie Fuller Trophy on Thursday (full preview on HuddWeb tomorrow) and there are no Friday league fixtures this week.