Veterans 10-Man League Tuesday preview

Veterans League

The Veterans 10-Man League begins its season on Tuesday with all 60 teams in action on the opening day. Time to pick a Tuesday Match of the Day in each Division.

Division 1

Can Lowerhouses add to their 2024 achievement of winning the Division 1 title by completing a double this year? Can Meltham build on their runaway promotion season from Division 2 by stabilising their position in the top flight? Well the answer to both questions will not be answered when the two teams meet on Tuesday afternoon but they might get a taste of what lies before them in reaching those two targets so Lowerhouses v Meltham A is my Division 1 Match of the Day.

They always say that winning a top league title is easier than retaining one and Lowerhouses are likely to find out how true that saying may be but a 20 point gap to their nearest challenger last season offers some insurance for them which will take some chipping away at by any contender. Lowerhouses got my vote to win the title again which will not help their cause one iota but good luck to them and all the teams in the top division and I look forward to a closer battle at the top than last season.

Division 2

I tipped an Elland Double for honours in Division 2 with the WMB and the C&BC both selected as my two teams to win promotion this year. Both of the teams start their season with away fixtures. Elland C&BC have to face Lindley BC A on Tuesday and the the Lindley team will be keen to continue their sequence of promotion and relegation between the top two divisions that saw relegation last year, promotion from Division 2 in 2023 and relegation from Division 1 in 2022.

So it will be interesting to see how both teams perform on the opening day of the new term. So Lindley BC A v Elland C&BC is my Division 2 Match of the Day.

Division 3

My top tips for promotion from Division 3 are Marsh Lib A and Slaithwaite as printed here last month. On that basis Slaithwaite really need to see off Thorpe Green when the teams start their season on Tuesday as Thorpe Green only avoided relegation last year to Division 4 by one place and 4 points. It could be a long season for them this time around so a good start is a real necessity for Slaithwaite if they are to be taken seriously.

Paddock I&C only finished last season, one place ahead of Thorpe Green and as they have to travel (but not very far) to play Marsh Lib will have a more difficult start to the new campaign. Add to that the burden I placed on them by selecting them as my Division 4 tip for the drop. So that is the match result I will be looking out for in Division 3 and is my Match of the Day, Marsh Lib A v Paddock I&C.

Division 4

Kirkheaton C&BC A missed out on promotion last year by a single point after having a great start to last season when winning 4 of their first 5 fixtures. A similar strong start will be required to throw down the gauntlet to the other challengers as they visit Milnsbridge B for their opening match. Last year they completed a League double over Tuesday's opponents and I nominate Milnsbridge B v Kirkheaton C&BC A as my Division 4 Match of the Day. Anything less will be a sign of a weakening of their chances which have already been damaged by my earlier tipping of them for the title.

Division 5

My Division 5 tip for the 2025 title is my clubmates from Kirkheaton Con B who welcome relegated Brockholes B to the postage stamp green for the opening match of the season. As this is the first visit to Kirkheaton Con for the Brockholes team for a few seasons so they may have forgotten how strong a home green it is. The two teams swapped places at the end of the 2023 season with Brockholes B gaining promotion to Division 4 which only lasted the one season. This renewal of the fixture will offer some guidance to both teams chances for the coming campaign so Kirkheaton Con B v Brockholes B is my Division 5 Match of the Day.