Ralph takes tough road to Trophy win

Pictured before the start are finalists in the Huddersfield Veterans LD Trophy. Below: Winner Mick Ralph receiving his trophy from competition sponsor Peter Hirst of John Atkinson Interiors of Morley up the pace that the leaders are setting.

Shepley were the only winners in the bottom half of the table, 7-2 at home to Broad Oak A, meaning they have won seven of their last eight matches and surely displaced all talk of relegation.

They did have a terrible start to the season, losing 10 of their first 11 fixtures.

Primrose Hill Lib A’s poor run of form continued with a 7-2 loss to New Mill A and they have now lost their last seven games. Relegation seems inevitable now as they are 18 points from safety.

Who is going down with them remains in the balance with just one point between Meltham B and Almondbury Lib.

Thorpe Green, top of Section 3, had a good 6-3 away win at Springwood to open up a 10-point lead over Lockwood Con B, 6-3 home winners over bottom team Canalside, whilst Kirkheaton Con were without a game and drop to third.

Paddock announced their intent of joining the battle for the second promotion place with an emphatic 9-0 home win over Ravensknowle Park A.

Bradley & Colne saw their lead at the top of Section 4 reduced to four points after a first defeat in 10 games with a 6-3 reversal at Marsh Utd B.

Brockholes B’s 6-3 win at Outlane sees them taking closer order on the leaders with everything still to play for.

At the foot of the table, the B teams of Lindley BC and Broad Oak both suffered 7-2 home defeats to remain firmly rooted in the relegation places.

The tussle of the top two in Section 5 went the way of the home side as Lowerhouses return to top place after beating Thongsbridge B 7-2.

New Mill B extended their winning run to seven games with a 5-4 home win over Primrose Hill Lib B and remain well in the contention, now just three points off the second promotion place.

Well done to Ravensknowle Park B in claiming their first victory since May 29 with Elland C&BC B the victims in a 6-3 scoreline.

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

Crosland Moor 8 Kirkheaton C&BC A 1, Primrose Hill Lib A 2 New Mill A 7, Longwood 6 Almondbury Lib 3, Shepley 7 Broad Oak A 2, Hemplow 3 Lindley BC A 6, Skel Windmill 2 Rastrick 7.

Springwood 3 Thorpe Green 6, Lockwood Con B 6 Canalside 3, Lindley Lib B 2 Holmfirth A 7, Golcar Lib B 7 Almondbury BC B 2, Paddock I&C 9 Ravensknowle Park A 0.

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

Kirkheaton C&BC B 5 Dalton 4, New Mill B 5 Primrose Hill Lib B 4, Huddersfield RUBC 7 David Brown Sports 2, Ravensknowle Park B 6 Elland C&BC B 3, Holmfirth B 8 Greenhead Park 1, Lowerhouses 7 Thongsbridge B 2. Bistro semi-finals: Netherton Con B 103 Marsh United A 103, Milnsbridge A 103 Lindley BC A 82.

Netherton Con 5 Skel Windmill A 2, Brockholes A 3 Paddock I&C 4, Thongsbridge B 5 Clayton West 2, Farnley Tyas 7 Golcar Lib 0, Crosland Moor 3 Milnsbridge BC 4, Shepley A 6 Almondbury Lib 1.

Skel Windmill B 3 Hemplow 4, Golcar C&BC 5 Brockholes B 2, Lindley Lib 7 Primrose Hill Lib 0, Holmfirth 5 Thongsbridge A 2, Oakfield T&BC 7 Marsh Lib 0. .............................................................................. Lockwood Con. A ..................................... Elland C&BC A ............................................ Marsh United A ......................................... Almondbury B.C. A .................................. Milnsbridge A ............................................. Waterloo ........................................................ Lindley Lib. A .............................................. Cowcliffe ........................................................ Clayton West .............................................. Golcar Lib A ................................................. Meltham A ................................................... Netherton Con. A ..................................... Brockholes A .............................................. Thongsbridge A ........................................ Rastrick .......................................................... Longwood .................................................... Crosland Moor ........................................... New Mill A ..................................................... Broad Oak A ................................................ Lindley B.C. A .............................................. Hemplow ....................................................... Skel Windmill .............................................. Kirkheaton C&BC A ................................. Shepley .......................................................... Almondbury Lib ........................................ Meltham B .................................................... Primrose Hill Lib A .................................. Thorpe Green ............................................. Lockwood Con. B ..................................... Kirkheaton Con ......................................... Paddock I&C ................................................ Golcar Lib B ................................................. Lindley Lib. B ............................................... Holmfirth A .................................................. Almondbury B.C. B .................................. Springwood ................................................. Ravensknowle Park A ........................... Canalside ...................................................... Bradley & Colne ........................................ Brockholes B .............................................. Marsden Park ............................................. Outlane .......................................................... Marsh United B ......................................... Slaithwaite ................................................... Denby Dale .................................................. Netherton Con. B ..................................... Meltham C .................................................... Milnsbridge B ............................................. Broad Oak B ................................................ Lindley B.C. B .............................................. Lowerhouses .............................................. Thongsbridge B ........................................ New Mill B ..................................................... Elland C&BC B ............................................ Huddersfield RUBC ................................. Holmfirth B .................................................. David Brown Sports ............................... Dalton .............................................................. Kirkheaton C&BC B ................................. Greenhead Park ....................................... Primrose Hill Lib. B ................................. Ravensknowle Park B ........................... Crosland Moor ........................................... Netherton Con . ......................................... Paddock I&C ................................................ Farnley Tyas ................................................ Clayton West .............................................. Shepley A ..................................................... Thongsbridge B ........................................ Milnsbridge BC .......................................... Brockholes A .............................................. Skel Windmill A ......................................... Almondbury Lib ........................................ Golcar Lib ...................................................... Lindley Lib .................................................... Oakfield T&BC ............................................ Skel Windmill B ......................................... Primrose Hill Lib ....................................... Golcar C&BC ................................................ Hemplow ....................................................... Meltham ........................................................ Holmfirth ...................................................... Thongsbridge A ........................................ Brockholes B .............................................. Marsh Lib ......................................................