Division 1 Champions versus Leaders

Veterans League

Preview of the 10-Man Veterans League Divisions 1 & 2 fixtures for Tuesday 30 April

Lindley BC A are the surprise early leaders of Division 1 and that status will be sorely tested this Tuesday when they go to play the reigning Champions on their own green. The Lindley captain was appealing for new players to join the club on this website before the season started as they looked to improve their squad on their return to the top level. That didn't bring a big response as there are a lot of teams looking for proven Division 1 bowlers but regardless of that the 2023 squad have moved up to the mark to have a strong start to the season.

They may have caught the 2023 Champions at the best possible time as they suffered two defeats in the last week. First losing 4-5 at Kirkheaton Con A on Tuesday and then going down 2-7 in a rearranged match on Friday against Waterloo. Lockwood Con A could take advantage should Golcar Lib A win their match over the leaders as they go to meet a Cowcliffe side still looking for their first win of the season.

With 3rd-placed Lowerhouses also playing an away match, Waterloo are well positioned to mount a climb up the table as they host a Netherton Con A team on a run of 3 straight defeats.

Longwood and Marsh United A are 6th and 5th in the table and go head-to-head this week and another close encounter is likely as two of the bottom four meet at Kirkheaton Cons where Clayton West are the visitors. After the first three weeks of the season there is no team with an unbeaten record in the top division with 12 of the 17 matches played to date being won by the home team which is less than the normal 80% average of home winners.

There is a Division 1 match on Thursday as the Cowcliffe v Kirkheaton Con A catch-up fixture is played.

The top three teams in Division 2 were all relegated from Division 1 at the end of last season and the first meeting of any two of them happens this week. Leaders Meltham A take on their nearest rivals, Elland C&BC, and both teams have won all three of their matches to date. Home advantage for Elland could prove vital with third-placed Milnsbridge BC A hovering waiting for an opening should they manage to beat Broad Oak A on their own green.

There is also a bottom-two confrontation as Linthwaite Hall travel to play Almondbury BC A with one point separating them at present. Two teams sat a point ahead of the bottom two are Almondbury Lib and Shepley. The Shepley team finished last season just outside the promotion places so to find themselves in the bottom four is not something they expected. They will be hoping for better things when they host Golcar Lib B who were promoted as Division 3 Champions last year and have made a promising start to their Division 2 programme. Almondbury Lib came up from Division 3 with them and they take on a Lindley Lib A side looking for a first away win of the season.

New Mill A finished last season mid-table but have made a promising start to the new season with three straight wins but are already 10-points behind the leaders who have also won all three opening matches. This Tuesday they play at Thongsbridge A.