Leaders go further ahead as rivals fall

Yorkshire Juniors scored a fine win over Shropshire at Kirkheaton CBC. Back, from left: Scott Shaw, Michael Hick (manager), Leah Keyworth, Ethan Wareing, Elliot Heap, Jack Bowes, Sophie McCafferey, Leah Weatherill, Steven Haigh (match secretary), Ethan Hick. Front: Cameron Ghaffer, Harrison Messenger, Ben Falkingham, Jack Waddington, Ben Beaumont and Sophie Brown (captain) LOCKWOOD Con extended their lead in Section 1 of the Lockwood Windows Huddersfield Veterans League following a 6-3 away win at Meltham A.

That came on top of defeats for their two nearest challengers as Elland C&BC A came down to earth following their 9-0 win last week when going down 6-3 to improving Lindley Lib A, who were extended their own winning run to three games.

Third-placed perennial challengers Milnsbridge A lost at home to Netherton Con A, where a 120-120 aggregate draw enabled the visitors to take the balance of points.

Cowcliffe continue to impress and followed up their victory over Champions Lockwood Con A with a rare win at Clayton West. A 119-117 aggregate win saw them steal the points and condemn the home side to a third home defeat of the season.

Worrying times for last season’s two promoted teams as they continue to sit in the relegation places after both suffered away defeats.

Thongsbridge A are on a sevengame run of defeats and are now 10 points off safety, with Brockholes A faring little better and facing a straight drop out of the top section.

In Section 2, leaders Rastrick made it 10 wins from 10 games with a 9-0 demolition of Broad Oak A and that opened up a 13-point gap to second placed Longwood, who needed the better aggregate score to win at lowly Meltham B by 5-4.

That gives renewed hope to Crosland Moor (7-2 away winners at Almondbury Lib) and New Mill A (no game) who both have a game in hand over Longwood and a reducing points cushion.

Kirkheaton C&BC A were the only winners in the bottom six with a great 8-1 home win over Hemplow.

There were only two winners in the top five in Section 3 and leaders Thorpe Green were one of those with a 6-3 home win over bottom team Almondbury BC B.

Second-placed Lockwood Con B lost for the first time at home this season when Lindley Lib B went home with a 6-3 victory to move into third place and appear a real threat.

Golcar Lib B drop to fourth after a heavy 8-1 defeat at Ravensknowle Park A.

There were three 8-1 home wins in Section 4 with leaders Brockholes B being one of those against Denby Dale, and that means they now have a six-point lead over Bradley & Colne (7-2 home winners over Milnsbridge B).

Slaithwaite’s move into the promotion picture over recent weeks took a setback when losing 6-3 at home to Outlane.

After losing their first six matches of the season, Netherton Con B claimed a second successive 8-1 win, this time at home to Marsh Utd B and, as they were the only winners outside the top four, it marked a major improvement in their survival chances.

In the lower area a good 5-2 home victory for Shepley enabled them to leapfrog opponents Skelmanthorpe Windmill A.

Clayton West 4 Cowcliffe 5, Marsh United A 6 Brockholes A 3, Milnsbridge A 4 Netherton Con A 5, Golcar Lib A 7 Thongsbridge A 2, Almondbury BC A 3 Waterloo 6, Lindley Lib A 6 Elland C&BC A 3, Meltham A 3 Lockwood Con A 6.

Kirkheaton C&BC A 8 Hemplow 1, Almondbury Lib 2 Crosland Moor 7, Meltham B 4 Longwood 5, Skel Windmill 6 Primrose Hill Lib A 3, Lindley BC A 8 Shepley 1, Rastrick 9 Broad Oak A 0.

Thorpe Green 6 Almondbury BC B 3, Kirkheaton Con 7 Paddock I&C 2, Holmfirth A 2 Springwood 7, Lockwood Con B 3 Lindley Lib B 6, Ravensknowle Park A 8 Golcar Lib B 1.

Brockholes B 8 Denby Dale 1, Bradley & Colne 7 Milnsbridge B 2, Netherton Con B 8 Marsh United B 1, Slaithwaite 3 Outlane 6, Broad Oak B 6 Lindley BC B 3, Marsden Park 8 Meltham C 1.

Dalton 8 Greenhead Park 1, Primrose Hill Lib B 2 Lowerhouses 7, David Brown Sports 8 New Mill B 1, Elland C&BC B 6 Kirkheaton C&BC B 3, Huddersfield RUBC 7 Ravensknowle Park B 2, Thongsbridge B 6 Holmfirth B 3.

Netherton Con 6 Golcar Lib 1, Brockholes A 6 Almondbury Lib 1, Crosland Moor 5 Clayton West 2, Shepley A 5 Skel Windmill A 2, Milnsbridge BC 5 Paddock I&C 2, Farnley Tyas 7 Thongsbridge B 0.

Golcar C&BC 7 Marsh Lib 0, Holmfirth 5 Primrose Hill Lib 2, Oakfield T&BC 7 Hemplow 0, Thongsbridge A 5 Brockholes B 2, Meltham 5 Lindley Lib 2. DRAWS have been made for four major Veterans competitions.

The Julie Fulloer first round is on Monday, June 18, when it’s bowling down to eight.

(Scr) Paddock I&C v Clayton West (+6) On New Mill, (Scr) Milnsbridge BC v Oakfield T&BC (+12) On Thorpe Green, (+18) Thongsbridge A v Skel Windmill A (+6) On Lockwood Con, (+12) Primrose Hill Lib v Meltham (+12) On Milnsbridge BC, (Scr) Farnley Tyas v Skel Windmill B (+18) On Lowerhouses, (+12) Holmfirth v Hemplow (+12) On Slaithwaite, (Scr) Brockholes A v Shepley A (Scr) On Meltham No1, (+6) Netherton Con v Lindley Lib (+18) On Marsh United.

On Thursday, June 21, it’s the Veterans Pairs round of 32 to eight. It’s bowled on two greens down to four on each.

G Rollinson & P Sykes 4 Holmfirth v S Greaves & R Barlow 3 Clayton West, T Stokes & C Rawcliffe 5 Brockholes v K Holroyd & K Terry 4 Rastrick, P Illingworth 7 & K Brown 1 Milnsbridge v R Saunders & R Taylor 3 Lindley Lib, B Walsh & A Chapman 4 Meltham v P Chomiak & P Cliffe 4 Crosland Moor, R Ellis & P Swinden 2 Meltham v G Atkinson & D Quarmby 4 Broad Oak, P Kain & R Manning Scr Lockwood Con v J Sheard & D Worral 3 Netherton, H Hick & A Emerson 1 Almondbury BC v P Crowther & I Jowett 4 Almondbury Lib, R Gartside & C Bradshaw 5 Slaithwaite v F Greenwood & S Manson 1 Gocar Lib.

P Hopkinson & R Morgan Scr Lindley Lib v D Cooling & D Duck 2 Lockwood Con, M Holt & B Morgan 4 Lindley Lib v C Hampshaw & K Morris 4 Springwood, M Haynes & J Hallewell 5 Almondbury BC v G Brook & P Rangeley 2 Netherton Con, G Beevers & C Wood 6 Bradley & Colne v R Lees & D Crowther 2 Almondbury BC, D Hirst & T Chatfield 3 Golcar Lib v D Armitage & T Berry 4 Hemplow, D Emsell & C Lloyd 3 Meltham v A Wrigley & T Wilkinson 3 Broad Oak, D Frost & G Schofield 4 Crosland Moor v B Jakeman & A Ufton 4 New Mill, J Hirst & A Stephenson 2 Waterloo v P Hunter & P Hirst 6 Lowerhouses.

G Nash 5 Canalside v D Hirst 2 Golcar Lib, D Sykes 5 Marsden Park v H Clegg 7 Hemplow, M Pejica 6 Netherton Con v W Shaw 6 Primrose Hill, F Barraclough 5 Marsh Utd v G Edmunds 7 Hemplow, A Garside 6 Broad Oak v J Cocking 7 Hemplow, J Sheard 3 Netherton Con v G Rollinson 4 Holmfirth, F Greenwood Scr Golcar Lib v R Sutton Scr Meltham, D Iredale 4 Rastrick v E Hine 3 Kirkheaton C&BC. HUDDERSFIELD Veterans take on bottom side Castleford tomorrow in the Yorkshire Inter-district League.

It’s a 1.30pm start for the home team at Paddock I&C and the away side at Ferrybridge.

Supporters are welcome at both venues and there will be the usual facilities and light refreshments at Paddock I&C.

(from) D Booth, A Broughton, D Crowther (capt), M Gilbert, F Griffin, D Hewitt, H Hick, T Hodgson, P Hopkinson, D Pollard, R Stopford.

(from) A Bamforth, J Baxter, K Brown, M Cox, B Gibson, F Greenwood (capt), E Haigh, J Hoyle, P Kain, R Manning, R Sutton.