Ah, the magic of the cup! Ronnie Radford, Ricky Villa, Gazza's free kick and poor old Bert Trautmann's neck. None of the above featured in the rejuvenated, rescheduled Harrogate League Five-Man Cup, but there was sweat, elation and despair aplenty.

Defending champions David Lloyd are no longer around to defend their title, but last season’s beaten finalists Chapel Allerton 2 sailed into the semis easily enough. Cameron Ward, Richard Hinds and James Butterworth were their winners against Collingham, with a walkover at No.5 having given them a handy kickstart.

Chapel Allerton 1, however, are out. Second placed in the league they may be, but they lost 4-1 at Otley 1, with Matt Wood, Phil Davies and Rick Saunders victorious, and Mark Swift beating Phil Young to record just his second win in seven HL games this term.

League leaders Harrogate 1 won the cross-town derby with Harlow 1. The lower order won it for them, with brothers Olly and Peter Hotchkiss augmenting Neil Molyneux’s 3/0 victory at No.5. That meant the top two strings were ‘meaningless’ affairs, but they both went to five games anyway, Harrogate’s No.1 Simon Myring losing his first match of the season, 11-9 in the fifth against John Simpson.

Adel 1 are the other semi-finalists, easing through without having to leave the house after Aireborough 1 failed to raise a team.

Division 1 semi-finals: Chapel Allerton 2 v Otley 1; Harrogate 1 v Adel 1

In the Division Two section, there was no doubt about the game all the TV networks were fighting over. Harrogate 2 v Collingham 2 - the league runners-up and leaders, had been drawn together from the big ball bag.

The redoubtable Nick Williams, Dan Adams and James Rollinson have only lost two matches between them all season for Collingham. They continued their excellent form, while Paul Fotherby was drafted in at No.1 and swept to victory over Harrogate 2’s Andy Keeling.

Last year’s cup winners Chapel Allerton 4 had the advantage of facing just four men against Otley 2, but the evening ended up going right down to the wire. Mike Dale played like a heavily asthmatic tortoise, appearing to forget even the most basic technique and tactics despite having played since the age of six. At No.5 Matthew Johnson was disrupted by Jim Brogden in an acrimonious 3/2 defeat.

Mike Robinson’s 3/2 win over Paul Roberts tied things up at 2-2, leaving James Steingold to put in a performance for the ages to overcome Hayden Stewart 3/1 at No.1 and drag Chapel A 4 through to the last four.

The season just gets worse for Mark Taylor’s Chapel A side, though. They had their backsides slapped 5-0 by Adel 2, who will meet Dunnington in the semis. The York club won 4-1 at Collingham 3, spearheaded by world-ranked racketlon player Jermaine Manners at No.1 string.

Division 2 semi-finals: Adel 2 v Dunnington; Chapel Allerton 4 v Collingham 2

In Division Three, Lloyd Palmer continued his personal unbeaten run (seven and counting) in leading Chapel Allerton 5 into the last four. Sam Smith, Matt Urquhart, Rowan Robinson and Matt Davenport (the latter via a walkover) sealed a clean-sweep win over Ilkley 1.

Adel – second place in the league – coasted into the semis after opponents Chapel Allerton 6 failed to raise a side. They play Otley 3 in the semis after the Chevinistas recovered from early defeats for Matthew Walker and Brian Portwood to win 3/2, Michael Bryant sealing the comeback with a five-game victory at No.1.

Harrogate 3 complete the semi-final line-up, winning 3-2 against the villagers of Collingham 4, who couldn’t recover from an early 2-0 deficit. Harrogate’s Dave Mann and James Green laid the platform, with none other than ex-Chapel A bar-fly James Tomlinson finishing the job at No.1.

Division 3 semi-finals: Harrogate 3 v Chapel Allerton 5; Otley 3 v Adel 3

Into the Division Four Cup and Ilkley evidently decided to ‘concentrate on the league’ (which they lead) as they crashed 3-2 at Adel 4. The hosts’ Alan Johnson, Fred Harrison and Nigel Smithson did the damage.

Adel will face Chapel Allerton 7 next after they won a thriller at Collingham 5, Simon Child winning 10/8 in the fifth against youngster Maximus Cooke at No.1 to wrap up a dramatic 3-2 win.

The other semi pits Otley 4 against Harrogate 4. The latter received a bye, while Otley beat David Lloyd 1 thanks partially to the visitors only turning up with four men. Ian Wolfenden, Oli Comyn and Mark Firth sealed their passage.

Division Four semi-finals: Otley 4 v Harrogate 4; Adel 4 v Chapel Allerton 7

It's back to league action next week. Look out for next week's round-up on the site on Wednesday night (or whenever I get around to it).