Veterans League
Preview of the 10-Man League Divisions 1 & 2 fixtures for Tuesday 21 May
Big match at the top of Division 1 this Tuesday as the defending Champions, Golcar Lib A, host this fixture against their aspiring successors, Lowerhouses, who have a 3-points lead over the 2nd team at present and a 5-points lead over the Golcar side. Golcar Lib only lost two home matches all last season and completed a league double over Lowerhoses but their opponents are a very different threat this season. Some would say that the Golcar Lib side are also not the force they have been for the last two seasons when they have lifted the Division 1 title. So we are building up to an important battle between two of the very best teams in the Veterans League.
An interested party looking on at these proceedings will be the revamped Longwood team. They only escaped relegation in the last week of the season in 2023 but are a very different opponent this time around and will be sniffing around for any opening that arises from the Golcar Lib v Lowerhouses clash. Longwood, with a home match against bottom of the table Netherton Con on Tuesday, who are still looking for their first win of the season and if desperation sets in anything is possible.
Lindley BC A are also very much in the title mix as well, sitting 4 points behind the leaders in 3rd place and with a home match this week against a Lockwood Con team still smarting from last week's 1-8 home defeat to Longwood. Rastrick had a good away win at Marsh United A last week and will be looking to build on that when they try to become the first team to beat Kirkheaton Con on their own green this season.
Clayton West haven't won since the opening day of the season when they saw off Lowerhouses. Four straight defeats since then is a sequence they will be looking to end when travelling to play Waterloo on Tuesday. Cowcliffe have won their last two matches and they entertain a Marsh United A side that has lost their last three league fixtures and a home win could see a reverse of league positions for the two sides.
The Division 2 leaders, Meltham A, one defeat in four, travel to meet Broad Oak A, one win in four, with the expectation that their lead at the top will stay intact although may be reduced as 2nd placed Elland C&BC have a home match against a struggling Shepley side.
With two Almondbury teams at the foot of the table there is a lot of local pride at stake in their efforts to move away from the drop zone. Both have home matches this week and neither offer easy pickings at all. Almondbury BC A welcome third-in-the-table Milnsbridge A who haven't won an away match this season yet, whilst Almondbury Lib take on a Golcar Lib B team that has won 3 of their last 4 fixtures.
The teams in 4th and 5th positions go up against each other as Lindley Lib A and New Mill A have identical Won-4 Lost-1 records to date. Linthwaite Hall won for the first time this year last week and will be looking to build on that but that won't be easy at Thongsbridge A.
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