Veterans League opening day preview

Veterans League

The 2025 Veterans League season opens on Moday with a full 6-Man League fixture programme as we dip into reach of the four divisions and identify the potential match of the day in each.

Division 1

In the build-up to the start of the season I stuck my neck out by tipping two teams in each division to get promoted and two to be relegated. In Division 1 I tipped the same two teams to come out on top again but in the reverese order to 2024. That would see Waterloo beat Marsh United A to the title in 2025.

Both teams will know how important it is to have a good start to the new campaign and Waterloo appear to have the most gentle introduction to the new season with a home fixture against Brockholes A who finished last season in the bottom half of the Division 1 table. In contrast Marsh United A have a difficult looking away fixture at Skel Windmill A where they lost 0-7 last year. So this should provide an early indicator to the Marsh team's chances of retaining the title and so my Division 1 Match of the Day is Skel Windmill A v Marsh United A..

Division 2

My 2025 Division 2 tips for the top are Brockholes B and Marsh Lib A and it is the second of this pair who grabbed my attention when looking over the opening day fixture programme. Lindley Lib A were the most unfortunate of all teams to suffer from the reorganisation of the divisions as they finished 4th from bottom but were relegated by a slightly worse Aggregate For total than Thongsbridge A who survived to fight another day at the top level. So an opening day encounter between Lindley Lib A and Marsh Lib A will test the credentials of both teams as to their potential this season.

Meanwhile my tip for the title, Brockholes B, have a more gentle opening fixture as they are at home to Holmfirth A who finished in 5th place in Division 2 last season. So my opening day Division 2 Match of the day is Lindley Lib A and Marsh Lib A.

Division 3

My earlier 2025 Division 3 tips for the top two are Denby Dale and Lindley Lib B. Both start their 2025 6-Man League season with away matches at Primrose Hill Lib and Milnsbridge BC B respectively. Denby Dale and Primrose Hill Lib finished 3rd and 4th in the Division 3 table last season but with no less than 7 teams being relegated down into the Division 3 the near-misses will count for nothing as the standard will have risen considerably. That makes the Primrose Hill Lib v Denby Dale fixture my Match of the Day in Division 3.

I also tipped Hemplow A and Elland C&BC for the two relegation places this year and both start with difficult away fixtures at two teams to finish higher than them last season in the Division 2 table. This threatens to be a season to struggle for both teams and either will do well to pick up some points on the road this Monday.

Division 4

In Division 4 I selected the B teams from Clayton West and Skel Windmill as my two promotions tips and they go head-to-head this Monday and are an obvious choice as my Division 4 Match of the Day. Clayton West B are new to the League whilst Skel Windmill B finished 2024 as the highest placed team in Division 3 to be relegated to the new Division 4. With three other teams new to the League joining Clayton West it is a bit of a lottery as to which teams will thrive at this level and which are destined to be fighting off a bottom half finish. Time will tell but by then it may be too late so good luck to all the teams starting their season this Monday. Whatever Division you are bowling in and what aspirations you may have please make sure that you enjoy it.