Veterans League
Preview of the 10-Man League fixtures for Divisions 1&2 for Tuesday 9 April
Golcar Lib begin their chase for a third consecutive Division 1 title with a home fixture against Cowcliffe who were one of only two teams to beat them at home all last season. That result was their penultimate match of the 2023 season when the title was already secure and they stumbled over the line by managing to lose 3 of their final 4 matches. They will be refreshed and raring to go at the start of a new season.
A 6-match losing run in the middle of the season for Marsh United A last year scuppered their title aspirations but at other times they were almost unplayable as Golcar Lib will testify after suffering a league double to them. They start the 2024 season with an away match at 2023 Division 2 Champions Netherton Con A who won 13 of their last 14 matches last season as they stormed to the Division 2 title. They will be sorely tested at this higher level by a Marsh United A side keen to push for honours this season.
An 8-match winning finale to the 2023 season pushed Waterloo to their highest finishing position for many years with a close 3rd-place ending. They open their 2024 programme away to promoted Lindley BC A who have now alternated between the top two divisions for the past four years. Maybe the dominating days of the Lockwood Con A team are over but they remain a formidable opponent for any team as Tuesday's opponents, Rastrick, will confirm having suffered a league double to them last year.
There were 6 teams in a congested final Division 1 mid-table last year with just 5 points between them and those 6 included Clayton West and Lowerhouses who meet on the opening day of the new season. Longwood escaped relegation on the last day of last season and will be aiming to avoid any repeat of that need this time around and they have strengthened their team over the close-season. Their opening day opponents are the same as last year, Kirkheaton Con A. Originally scheduled to be played at Kirkheaton but problems with the green have delayed all matches there for the time being and this fixture has been reversed and will now be played at Longwood.
Last season the safety mark proved to be 103 points and with two less matches to play this season the bar has been raised and teams should be aiming for a three-figure total to ensure safety.
Three teams were relegated into Division 2 at the end of last season and all three start the season with home matches and all will be aiming for a quick turnaround to the top flight. Milnsbridge A had an awful season only collecting 50 points in total only winning 3 of their 24 fixtures as they failed to capitalise on romping away with the Division 2 title the previous year. They now find themselves back at this lower level and will need a win at home to Linthwaite Hall if they are to arrest a slide that saw them lose their Division 1 status. Linthwaite Hall needed 3 wins in their last 4 Division 2 fixtures last season to avoid an immediate return to Division 3 and will be aiming for a brighter start to this new campaign.
The other two teams relegated from Division 1 were Meltham and Elland C&BC who fell victim to the reorganisation work required to rebalance the five divisions. Elland C&BC host Almondbury BC A and Meltham entertain the promoted Division 3 Champions, Golcar Lib B, Almondbury Lib who came up with them have home advantage over Thongsbridge A which will provide a good benchmark for their chances for the coming season.
Shepley and Lindley Lib A finished in 3rd and 4th places last year separated by a single point and both will expect to be in the picture when the photo finish differentiates between the teams next September. Shepley open their season with a trip to play New Mill A who were in the mid-table trio of teams only separated by one point which also included Broad Oak A who have to travel to play Lindley Lib A this coming Tuesday.
Divisions 3,4 & 5 preview to follow later.
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