Veterans League
Preview of the 10-Man League Divisions 3,4&5 fixtures for Tuesday 17 September
The Division 3 title and promotion places could be finalised this Tuesday as Elland WMC and Denby Dale head for the stairs to Division 2 bowling for next season. Both have away matches to tackle first with the Denby Dale's task all the harder for having to play at third-placed Slaithwaite. A win will confirm at least their promotion but with leaders Elland WMC playing away at relegation-threatened Outlane makes anything grander more unlikely.
Defeat for Outlane would be a hammer blow to their escape chances but a run of 6 straight defeats and playing the top two teams in their next two matches indicates which way this matter is going to be settled. Thorpe Green have won 4 of their last 6 fixtures to find a way out of the relegation places but they will be mindful that they still have the top 2 teams to play in their final 3 fixtures. This makes this week's encounter at home to Paddock I&C all the more important. Skel Windmill could be running out of time to save their Division 3 status as defeat at Brockholes A on Tuesday could see their final hopes disappear.
There is a big match at the top of Division 4 as the leaders, Marsh United B, host third-placed Kirkheaton C&BC A with only 4 points between the teams. Second-placed Lockwood Con B are sandwiched between their two rivals for promotion and could benefit from that outcome but to do that they need to become only the second team to win at Meltham B this season. Meltham have won 8 of their 9 home fixtures to date and will be looking to make it 9 out of 10 to keep them in with a chance of escaping the drop.
A win for Meltham would bring the two teams immediately above them into the relegation picture. Those two teams are Brockholes B and Ravensknowle Park and they go head to head this Tuesday. Avoiding the drop would seem to be the prize for the match winner so lots at stake.
There is a title decider as the Division 5 leaders Netherton Con B welcome their main title rivals David Brown Sports this week. Having won their last 8 matches the home team will be confident of widening the gap at the top. Defeat for the visitors would open the promotion door for 3rd placed Dalton who are 5 points behind them but have to play host to 4th placed Primrose Hill Lib in another key top four clash. Both teams are in good form with Dalton winning their last 5 fixtures whilst the Pip Hill team have only been beaten by the the leaders in their last 5 league matches.
Only bragging rights are at stake in the Kirkheaton derby match which, despite what Bowlsnet is stating, is a Tuesday fixture I understand.
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