Clinching title in real style!

LOWERHOUSES clinched the Section 5 title in the Lockwood Windows Veterans League with a 9-0 home win over bottom team Ravensknowle Park B.

That secured top spot, but which team will be promoted with them has still to be decided with one point separating the two remaining contenders, Thongsbridge B and New Mill B.

The runners-up place in Section 1 has been won by Elland C&BC A, who got the one point they needed to claim that position when losing 8-1 at Clayton West.

Brockholes A lost 6-3 at home to bottom team Thongsbridge A to confirm that they will also be relegated along with their opponents.

There were 9-0 home wins for Lockwood Con A and Cowcliffe as there was for Shepley in Section 2, who have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes this season.

For a team to reach the halfway point with one win and 10 defeats and then finish mid-table is promotion form.

A 5-4 defeat at Hemplow for Almondbury Lib means that they will make an instant return to Section 3.

Champions Rastrick lost for the first time in 10 games, going down 6-3 at Crosland Moor, who kept their promotion hopes alive but remain five points behind Longwood – and both have one fixture left to play.

In Section 3, 6-3 away wins for Lockwood Con B and Kirkheaton Con means that both remain in contention for the second promotion place behind Thorpe Green, but with the Lockwood side having completed their fixtures Kirkheaton need four points from their final home match to make an instant return to Section 2.

A 7-2 away defeat at Almondbury BC B for Canalside means a second successive relegation along with Ravensknowle Park A.

It is very tight at the top of Section 4, where the one remaining section title has still to be determined.

Bradley & Colne and Brockholes B both enjoyed 6-3 away wins to maintain the one-point difference, with both teams having home games next week to complete their fixture programme.

Both are already assured of promotion with the destiny of the title to be confirmed.

The 6-3 away defeats for Broad Oak B and Lindley BC B means that both teams will start next season in Section 5. In the 6-man league a fifth consecutive win, this time by 5-2 at home over Clayton West, was sufficient for Netherton Con to clinch the Section A title with a week to spare.

Oakfield have clinched the runners-up spot in Section B without playing as Skel Windmill B failed to get the seven points they needed from their fixture with Primrose Hill Lib to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Lockwood Con A 9 Clayton West 0, Lindley Lib A 6 Marsh United A 3, Cowcliffe 9 Milnsbridge A 0, Waterloo 2 Golcar Lib A 7, Elland C&BC A 8 Almondbury BC A 1, Brockholes A 3 Thongsbridge A 6, Netherton Con A 2 Meltham A 7, Clayton West 8 Elland C&BC A 1.

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

Golcar Lib B 3 Kirkheaton Con 6, Almondbury BC B 7 Canalside 2, Ravensknowle Park A 3 Holmfirth A 6, Springwood 3 Lockwood Con B 6, Paddock I&C 4 Lindley Lib B 5.

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

New Mill B 7 Dalton 2, Holmfirth B 7 Primrose Hill Lib B 2, Greenhead Park 8 David Brown Sports 1, Thongsbridge B 6 Elland C&BC B 3, Kirkheaton C&BC B 6 Huddersfield RUBC 3, Lowerhouses 9 Ravensknowle Park B 0, Clayton West 8 Elland C&BC A 1.

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

Thongsbridge A 6 Hemplow 1, Marsh Lib 5 Brockholes B 2, Skel Windmill B 4 Primrose Hill Lib 3, Golcar C&BC 5 Lindley Lib 2, Holmfirth 4 Meltham 3.