Princeville D, who led the league table from the start of the season, have stuttered in the run up to Christmas.

After a thumping 4-0 win over Princeville C earlier in the month, their last two results have seen them struggle against the Pudsey duo in the division.

Having lost 3-1 to Pudsey A the other week to relinquish top spot, they followed that up with a disappointing 2-2 draw at Pudsey B in the last round of fixtures before the break.

Those dropped points against the strugglers could be closely, and it means Princeville D reach Christmas in third place, two points behind joint-leaders Pudsey A and Bradford Deaf Centre A.

Pudsey A backed up that fine win over Princeville D by repeating the trick at home to Princeville B.

But those two 3-1 wins allowed Bradford Deaf Centre A a glimmer of opportunity, which they took with both hands, recording successive 4-0 wins over Princeville A and Princeville C respectively.

That means Deaf Centre A now join Pudsey A at the summit, where both have 20 points after seven games.

Last season’s champions Bradford Deaf Centre B remain in touch with the top three, sitting on 16 points after backing up a whitewash over Princeville A with a 4-0 win away to Princeville C.

That quartet look to be the only realistic title contenders, and it will take an impressive run of form in the New Year if any the bottom four teams in the table are to threaten those currently at or near the top.

Princeville B and Pudsey B are only on 11 points apiece, while a bruised Princeville C and Princeville A are joint-bottom on a miserable eight points.

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:

PRINCEVILLE A 0 BRADFORD DEAF CENTRE B 4

PRINCEVILLE C 0 BRADFORD DEAF CENTRE A 4

PUDSEY A 3 PRINCEVILLE B 1

PUDSEY B 2 PRINCEVILLE D 2

 

TOP BREAKS THIS MONTH:

R. Bowes (PUDSEY B) 57 & 31

S. Kershaw (PRINCEVILLE B) 49

P. Wood (BRADFORD DEAF CENTRE B) 30

 

CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE (all played SEVEN):

PUDSEY A                        20

BFD DEAF CENTRE A     20

PRINCEVILLE   D             18

BFD DEAF CENTRE B     16

PRINCEVILLE B               11

PUDSEY B                        11

PRINCEVILLE C                 8

PRINCEVILLE A                 8