Veterans League
Preview of the Divisions 3, 4 & 5 10-Man League matches scheduled for Tuesday 21 May
Denby Dale continue to set a very hot pace at the top of the Division 3 table collecting 37 points from their opening 5 fixtures all of which they have won. Elland WMC and Brockholes A are locked together on 29 points behind the leaders. Denby Dale have already beaten both their prime rivals for the title albeit on the Denby green with the away legs saved for later in the season. In fact the Elland side have also lost away from home to the Brockholes team as well.
This Tuesday Denby Dale and Elland WMC have away fixtures at Hemplow A and Skel Windmill respectively. Neither can afford to slip up as Brckholes have a home fixture against Paddock I&C. The Paddock team are in a pack of 5 teams separated by 2 points behind the leading trio and we would expect one of those five teams to emerge as a threat to the leading threesome as the season progresses. But which one will it be? A win for Paddock this week would send out a serious message to the rest of the teams in the division.
The same can be said of Skel Windmill. They have won 4 of their 5 matches to date but have avoided playing the top three teams until now. The visit of Elland WMC will be a big test for both teams. In fact it could prove to be a pivotal month in the title race as Skel Windmill have home matches against the top three teams over the next four Tuesday fixture programmes.
Slaithwaite head that chasing pack behind the leaders and are given the opportunity to confirm that status with a home match against Lindley Lib B this week. They have lost their last three matches whereas the Slaithwaite side are on a run of three straight wins.
Springwood and Thorpe Green currently sit in the two relegation places. Last year both teams were in different divisions. Thorpe Green were in Division 2 and were an innocent casualty of the League's reorganisation of divisions whilst Springwood came up from Division 4 as runners-up to Lindley Lib B. This week Springwood have a home match against Holmfirth A whilst Thorpe Green travel to play Outlane.
Another casualty of the rebalancing reorganisation of divisions was Kirkheaton C&BC A who have stated their intentions to rectify that change in surroundings with a strong start to the new season which sees them heading the Division 4 table by 4 points. This week they go to play Marsh Lib who after a bad start to the season have won their last two matches to climb up the table. A 126-127 aggregate outcome saw the Cricket Club lose their only match of the year on the opening day and they have been rock-solid winners since then. They will certainly expect to come under pressure this week with the three teams directly behind them all having home fixtures. Second-placed Milnsbridge host the Rugby Club, third-placed Marsh United have bottom-of-the-table Lindley BC B as visitors and Lockwood Con B take on Thongsbridge B. All three should be capable of adding another win to their records this week.
Brockholes B have had a tough start to the season having matches against the top four teams in the table. They have won two of those in claiming the scalps of the top two so are no mugs that their current lowly position might indicate. This week they have a more realistic chance of a win when travelling to take on one of the two teams below them in the table, Meltham B. They really must be looking to collect a win there if their potential is to become evident.
If Ravensknowle Park are to figure more in standings at the top of the table this season, rather than has been their past practice of involved more at the bottom end then they need to make a statement this week away at Huddersfield Recreation Club. A win would launch them into the top group whereas defeat would probably see them overtaken by their Tuesday hosts.
There is a first versus third encounter in Division 4 as the leaders, Netherton Con B, entertain Kirkheaton Con B and with home advantage will expect to extend their 100% win record. Any slip-up could open the door to second-placed David Brown Sports who have an away match at lowly Holmfirth A where they will expect to pick up the majority of the points on offer.
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