Chapel Allerton 1 seized top spot on what was a night of merciless beatings in Harrogate League Division One.

All four matches finished with some heavily lop-sided scorelines, including Chapel A 1’s 12-1 hammering of Chapel A 3 in which Declan Christie and Phil Young won rapidly, with Adam Barrowcliffe at least stretching Ross Williamson to four games at No.3.

That win enabled Chapel A 1 to take advantage of Harrogate 1’s week off and snatch top spot, although as the new leaders have a rest of their own next week, Harrogate will surely leapfrog them to reclaim their lofty perch before the Christmas break.

Third-placed Collingham 1 visited Adel and dished out a 12-2 mauling with victories for Stephen Kettlewell (his sixth in a row this season), Robin Mannall and Ben Hodgetts.

Winless Aireborough’s 12-0 loss at Harlow 1 perhaps came as little surprise, but the night’s final tonking was something of a shock – fourth-placed Chapel Allerton 2 crashing 12-0 at Otley 1, who had previously only won just once all season! Rick Saunders, Mark Swift and Phil Davies did the damage to what was a slightly weakened visiting side.

In Division Two the tussle for promotion is looking very interesting indeed after leaders Collingham 2 crashed 2-1 at fourth-placed Dunnington. Collingham’s unfamiliar line-up at No.1 and 2 was dispatched by the York club’s Nick Robinson and Jermaine Manners.

And who’s this moving stealthily back up into the top two? Why, it’s Chapel Allerton 5, dropping just a single game in dismissing the plucky challenge of Chapel Allerton 6, with Tim Manuel, Dave Stannard and Mike Dale the victors.

Level on points with them in third are previous leaders Harrogate 2 whose empty-bellied schlep to Skipton was a profitable one as Neil Molyneaux won in straight games and Steve Whiteley won 9/7 in the fifth to overturn Peter Hotchkiss’ early loss to Daryl Ley.

Collingham 3’s misery deepens as they lost 12-3 at home to Adel 2, while Julian Gorton’s first appearance of the season perked up under-achieving Chapel Allerton 4, who overcame Otley 2 by 11-3.

Plunging into the mean streets of Division Three, and Adel 3 still reign supreme although their unbeaten record was given a severe test by Collingham 4. All three matches went to five games and it was almost time for breakfast by the time Jonty Hodgson beat Toby Morton 9/6 in the fifth to make it eight wins out of eight for the leaders – the only unbeaten record in all four divisions.

Chapel Allerton 7 are second but this week’s result remains a mystery due to the slackness of skipper Rowan Robinson in not yet entering the score of their home game with Ilkley 1.

The shock result this week was bottom side Adel 4’s 2-1 win at third-placed Otley 3. Max Cawthra triumphed at No.3 and Chris Wilcox extended Otley 3’s top string Michael Bryant’s run of defeats to six.

In Division Four, leaders Ilkley 3 also slumped to a surprise defeat – 10-3 at home to mid-table Aireborough 2. No.3 Roger Wilkinson and No.1 Kev McGuinness won in style to take a notable scalp.

David Lloyd’s late entry of their match info against Collingham 5 leaves our appetite to know who leads the table unwhetted. A Collingham win would take them above Ilkley into top spot – but did they get it? We’ll just have to wait until admin duties have been completed.

Third-placed Adel 5 lost at home to Otley 4 - Mark Firth and Richard Day both winning in straight games – while gloom continues to envelop Chapel Allerton 9, who sit bottom of the pile after a 12-1 backslide-slapping at Harrogate 4.