Leaders Barnsley head into festive season in high spirits

They closed the first half of the season 20 points ahead of their nearest challengers – Hallamshire and defending champions Dunnington – after a hard-fought 17-9 home victory over struggling Heaton.

Victories by Wales’ Joel Makin, Miles Jenkins and Millie Tomlinson over Belgium’s Jan van den Herrewegen, Julian Tomlinson and Isaac Rawcliffe were enough to clinch the win bonus, although Stuart Macgregor and Phil Bowker ensured they had to battle for it by beating Tom Bamford and Mick Stead.

Meanwhile, Hallamshire stormed home 20-1 at Queens to sound a warning to Barnsley, as they have a fixture in hand at Heaton, which they would expect to win.

Their maximum was clinched by Chris and Mark Fuller, Alex Cutts, Jack Alcock and Dan Lawrence, with only Cutts dropping a game against Danny Bray.

In contrast, Dunnington were pushed all the way in their 16-9 success at Chapel Allerton. They owed their triumph to wins from Nathan Lake, Gareth Lumsdon and Danny Hockborn over Joel Hinds, Dom Hamilton and Declan Christie, with Niall McKinnon and Adam Wellstead defeating Ed Shannon and Matthew Stephenson.

At the other end of the table Pontefract reserves were assured of bottom place going into the festive season after crashing 20-5 at home to Abbeydale.

Matthew Broadberry, Adam Turner, Nick Wall, Omar Badr and Sam Watts sealed the clean sweep by beating Matt Godson, Ben Hodgetts, Sam Todd, Jayden Gough and Ben Sockett.

The League resumes on January 13.