Veterans League
A preview of the fixtures for Monday 3 June in the Veterans 6-Man League
The top two teams in Division 1 meet each other this week as the title scramble continues with dramatic changes every week. Only one point separates the leaders Netherton Con from Waterloo and both teams are on a good run of form. Waterloo are unbeaten in four whilst Netherton have won their last three fixtures and both won their Julie Fuller Trophy matches on Thursday where they are on course for a quarter-final meeting. Netherton will take some comfort from the knowledge that the 5 teams immediately behind them all have away fixtures this week.
The tight competition for honours shows that only 5 points separate the top eight teams and Lindley Lib's experience shows how easy it is to slip out of contention. Last week they led the table but a 0-7 loss at Gocar C&BC saw them drop 7 places to 8th spot and in the bottom half of the table. They need to rebuild their confidence which took another hammering when they went out of the Julie Fuller Trophy on Thursday with a shock defeat to New Mill from Division 2. That rebuilding starts this week with a home fixture against Brockholes who sit two places and two points above them in the table.
Golcar C&BC after that great win over the leaders added to that with a comfortable JFT pass and this week travel to play Thongsbridge A knowing that a win would probably lift them into the top two places, maybe even top. However Skel Windmill A and Marsh United may have something to say on that. Both teams face bottom three opposition this week with the incentive of a higher position a good away win could bring. Their opponents are Paddock I&C and Crosland Moor who are both desparate for the points to lift them out of the drop zone.
Slaithwaite v Shepley A is the other fixture and if Slaithwaite have any intention of featuring more strongly in the title race they need to take such opportunities as a home match against an opponent below them in the table as an invitation to move into contention. After a slow start to the season the Shepley side have won 3 of thir last 4 fixtures showing the form that won them the 6-Man League Championship in 2021 and 2022 and will prove to be a resolute opponent this Tuesday.
Division 2 leaders, Clayton West, hold a 7-match unbeaten league record and travel to play a Linthwaite Hall team in the relegation places and looking for a second win of the season. Golcar Lib sit three points behind the leaders and have a home match against Greenhead Park A which they will expect to win and bounce back from a first home defeat of the season when going down to Milnsbridge B last week followed up by going out of the JFT on Thursday after only being able to field four bowlers for their tie against Netherton Con.
With just 7 points from 7 matches Elland C&BC seem on course for a second consecutive relegation as they are already 13 points from safety and have to play at Milnsbridge B this week. The home side are looking for a first home win since the opening day of the season and it would be a surprise if they didn't claim it.
Eyes will be on Bradley & Colne to see if they can field a full team this week when they have to play an improving Holmfirth A team at Holmfirth. New Mill will be looking to build on their JFT mid-week success when hosting Longwood and Hemplow will be looking for home advantage to ease them through a match against a Lindley Lib B side who have lost all their away matches this season. The meeting of the Liberal Club teams from Almondbury and Marsh concludes the Division 2 fixture programme for this week.
Brockholes B and Denby Dale will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Division 3 table and preserve their 100% win records when facing Meltham and Marsh Lib B respectively. With Brockholes at home to the team bottom of the table and Denby Dale having to go to play 5th placed Marsh Lib B it will be difficult for them to improve on the two point gap between the teams. The next two teams in the table both have home matches this week against teams struggling in the nether regions of the table. Skel Windmill B host Holmfirth B team and Greenhead Park B play Brockholes C with anything other than convicing home wins being a major upset.
The two Thongsbridge teams are both away from home and take on the two teams sandwiched between them in the table. The B side play at Marsh United B whilst the C team are at Primrose Hill Lib. Whereever and whoever you are playing this week remember it is the manner in which you play and enjoy your match which is more important than the result. Enjoy your bowling gentlemen.
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