We're past the starters and very much into the main course as far as the 2017/18 Harrogate Squash League is concerned - with emerging title tussles and relegation scraps to chew on as the nights draw in.

Due to the odd number in Division One, Harrogate 1 and Chapel Allerton 1  have played seven games compared to everyone else's six and find themselves positioned first and second respectively.

Their lofty positions aren't just a quirk of the fixture computer though; Harrogate made short work of third-placed Chapel Allerton 2 this week courtesy of wins for Kiwi Jackson Beresford at No.1 and No.2 Simon Myring (whose absences were so costly in their defeat last week to Collingham 1).

Chapel Allerton 1, however, fell to a second defeat of the season - 2-1 at the aforementioned Collingham 1. It all came down to the top-string tete-a-tete between Sam Wileman and Declan Christie, which the former won 11/9 in the fifth. On such fine margins are titles won and lost.

The title winners will almost certainly come from the above-mentioned four sides, but at the other end Airebrough 1 are already circling the plughole. Only Sam Lindley was able to gain a single point as they lost for a sixth straight week, 12-1 at Chapel Allerton 2.

In Division Two, Chapel Allerton 5 confirmed the end of their blip by toppling Harrogate 2 from the summit in spectacular fashion. Captain Mike Dale stepped aside to allow the in-form Tim Manuel, Dave Stannard and Mike Robinson to travel gleefully back up the A61 with 12 points in the boot. They move up to third.

That result allowed Collingham 2 to replace Harrogate 2 in top spot by collecting their sixth win in a row. Neither James Rollinson or Dan Adams has lost since the opening day of the season, and Nick Williams, at No.3, has an entirely unblemished record. They look a strong unit and it was with minimal fuss that they dispatched Chapel Allerton 4, who cannot get their act together this season and are languishing in sixth.

Elsewhere, Otley 2 are also in the Division Two title mix, moving up to fourth thanks to an uncomfortably tight 2-1 win over bottom side Skipton.

Into Division Three, and at the time of writing, four lazy/busy* (*delete as appropriate) home captains haven't entered Tuesday night's results yet, so whether Adel 3 have continued their unbeaten start to the season is known only to those who were lucky enough to get tickets for their away game with Ilkley 1.

The only captain on the ball in Division 3 so far is Jim Ruddy of Harlow 2, who were defeated by Otley 3. They move into second place (although other results - when eventually entered - may yet deprive them of that position).

It's a better performance from Division Four skippers with all but one result now in. The big news is that Collingham 5's unbeaten record has gone - to lowly Harrogate 4!

John Hurst - making his first appearance of the season - lost 3/0 at No.3 to Marcus Lynn, and although youngster Maximus Cooke kept up his 100% record, No.1 Michael Odling-Smee's 3/2 loss at No.1 ensured the first addition to the side's 'L' column this season.

No such problems for Ilkley 3, whose 2-1 win over third-placed Adel 5 saw them take over at the top.

Next week, the league takes a brief hiatus for the quarter-finals of the Five-Man Cup. Look out for next week's bumper Cup quarter-final review! Happy wall-banging to one and all.