Veterans League
Review of the matches played in Divisions 3,4 and 5 on Tuesday 9 April
Elland WMC are the only new team in the 10-Man League and they started life in a positive way by beating Holmfirth A 7-2 in their Division 3 opener. That result proved to be the only home win of the day in the division as the travellers seemed to be more up for the fixtures than their opponents. The Holmfirth side lost 5 of their final 6 fixtures last season to confirm their relegation and have had a disappointing start to the new campaign. Hemplow A and Thorpe Green came down with them and with the Hemplow versus Springwood match a victim of the weather it was left to Thorpe Green to bring some hope to the relegated trio that life might be better at this lower level. However it was not to be as they went down 3-6 at home to Lindley Lib B who were the runaway winners of Division 4 last year.
Denby Dale were the big winners of the day with an 8-1 victory at Paddock I&C where they lost 1-8 last season and that result puts them at the top of the first league table. Slaithwaite finished last season ahead of Skel Windmill but lost both matches between the teams, a habit that continues this year as the visitors ran out 5-4 winners courtesy of a better aggregate total (118-114).
Huddersfield Recreation Club were unfortunate to drop down to Division 4 after finishing clear of the drop zone but a victim of the rebalancing exercise. They opened their 2024 account with a convincing 8-1 win over Meltham B who came down with them after finishing bottom of the table so bigger tests to come.
That big win for the Recreation Club didn't take them to the top of the opening day league table as Ravensknowle Park has that distinction. They had the same 8-1 scoreline but a 146-103 aggregate win was better than the Recreation Club and sent them top. Even if it is day one of the season to be top at any stage is always a big filip for any team.
Lockwood Con B and Kirkheaton C&BC B were the other two teams to drop down into Division 4 and they had differing open day experiences. Lockwood Con B played Marsh United B who finished mid-table and they were good enough to see off the Lockwood boys by 7-2 whereas the Kirkheaton A side who went down 3-6 to a Brockholes B team continuing their good form that saw them promoted at the end of last season. Two teams that finished last season as mid-tablers in Division 4 met up with Thongsbridge B taking full advantage of a home game to beat the Rugby Club 7-2.
Interesting outcome of the Marsh Lib v Milnsbidge B encounter with Marsh Lib finishing the 2023 season as the third-placed team in Division 4 with Milnsbridge winning the Division 5 title by 15 clear points. The much-fancied Marsh Lib with home advantage failed to capitalise on that and went down 3-6 to Milnsbridge which will give them some confidence for their chances of a repeat of their 2023 success.
We don't see too many white-wash 9-0 scorelines and even less that have been scored by the away team but we have one this week. David Brown Sports had the dry-rub win over Almondbury BC B who were making a first appearance in Division 5 for many years and it wasn't a good experience. Kirkheaton C&BC B have appeared in the Division 5 competition for over 10 years, usually finishing in the bottom half, sometimes bottom altogether but they just keep turning up every week enjoying their bowling and little appears to have changed this season. They opened their season with a 2-7 home defeat to Nteherton Con B.
The Primrose Hill Lib versus Kirkheaton Con B match was postponed at late notice because of a waterlogged green. Dalton and Broad Oak B have been well-supported by the Fantasy League entrants and they justified that support with both having good home victories. Dalton disposing of Greenhead Park by 7-2 and the Broad Oak B side defeated Hemplow B 6-3 to encourage their supporters. A good away win for New Mill B 5-4 at Holmfirth B where they were beaten last season but a better aggregate total secured the points for them this time around.
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