"Wooooo, we're halfway there!" sang Jon Bon Jovi - a clear reference to his excitement at the Harrogate League reaching its midway point. Many teams are in the running for titles, while others, sadly, are livin' on a prayer.

Harrogate 1 are definitely in the former category; regaining top spot in Division One courtesy of a thrilling 10-6 win over fourth-placed Chapel Allerton 2. All three players in their line-up - Olly Hotchkiss, Simon Myring and Jackson Beresford - had 100% records going into the clash - that's 17 wins and no defeats between them.

Hotchkiss extended his personal tally to seven in a row by defeating Richard Hinds at No.3, but Myring was forced to concede to John Riley at 1/5 in the second game due to an injury.

That pitted the No.1 Beresford against teenager Ben Merchant (his team-mate for Chapel Allerton in the Yorkshire Premier League). It was the Kiwi who won 11/4 in the fifth to give Harrogate a four-point lead at the top heading into the Christmas break.

Chapel Allerton 1 had a rest week but remain in second, while Collingham 1 have now fallen 13 points off the lead after crashing at home to Harlow. The redoubtable Steve Kettlewell got them off to a confident start with his seventh successive win this season, but all went awry after that as Richard Leonard and John Simpson fell to rare defeats – both 3-1 - to Robin Mannall and Ben Hodgetts respectively.

Elsewhere, Chapel Allerton 3 clinched the crunch relegation clash with Adel 1 thanks to victories for James Butterworth and Cameron Ward, while bottom side Aireborough 1’s wait for a victory goes on. They crashed 12-2 at Otley 1 and Ladbrokes are no longer taking bets on their relegation.

In Division Two, the closeness of the title race is emphasised by four teams having a 'W7 L2' record. Collingham 2 are uppermost among them; they can enjoy an extra mince pie or two after marmalising their stablemates Collingham 3 12-0 to stay top by two points.

Chapel Allerton 5 are breathing down their necks, though. Mike Robinson battled back from two down to win a “tough and ugly” encounter with Jonty Hodgson, while Mike Dale and Dave Stannard mopped up at Nos. 3 and 1.

Harrogate 1 are two points further back after they sent poor Chapel Allerton 4 to another defeat. It was close though, with Mark Taylor and Julian Gorton losing in the fifth to Paul Ryan and Andy Keeling respectively. Bobby Pearson added some respectability to the scoreline at No.1.

Fourth-placed Dunnington are certainly among the title chasers, walloping Otley 2 with George Pethullus, Joe Cybaniak and world-ranked racketlon star Jermaine Manners barely breaking sweat.

Chapel Allerton 6 picked up a “hen’s teeth” win – 9-5 against Skipton – to put 14 points between themselves and the dreaded dotted line.

Into the third tier, and captains of Collingham 2, Harlow 4 and Adel 4 are all on the naughty step for late entry of results. Collingham’s hesitation is understandable if rumours of a spectacular triple bagel by Chapel Allerton 7’s top string Lloyd Palmer are to be believed.

Of the two matches with results successfully entered, we learn that Ilkley 1 hammered Ilkley 2, with wins by Matthew and Andy MacGregor helping to lift them into third.

Chapel Allerton 8 pulled further clear of the whiffy stuff by surprisingly toppling Otley 3, Richard Hopson and Alex Paes the Leeds club’s heroes.

With only eight teams in it, Division Four finished for Christmas a week earlier than the rest, so leaders Collingham 5 have no doubt started on the celebratory sherry already.

It’s the semi-finals of the Five-Man Cup next week. Get your teams in order ladies and gents and we’ll have the round-up for you next Thursday evening.