Recent weeks in Division 2 of the League have seen the three main title contenders go through some ups and downs, leaving the top of the table battle intriguingly poised. The Old Stoics have been setting the early pace on court but suffered a major off court setback, having to scratch their match with Highgate and conceding three penalty points in the process to push them back into third place. They remain very much in contention, however, as the other two teams in the top three have also had their momentum stalled. Highgate themselves suffered a 3-0 reverse at the hands of North Oxford, but just when the Oxfordt team seemed set to establish themselves in first place, they came up against an Olavian 3 team at Eton on Sunday that contained both Seb Cooley and Peter White. Despite a strong fight from the Oxford team, the Olavians scored a 2-1 win to give themselves some much needed points in the fight to avoid relegation and also leave the top of the table wide open.

The defeats suffered by the top three have also meant that the chasing pack have been given a chance to use their games in hand and get themselves involved in the title race. Chief among these are the Etonians and the Salopians; the Salopians scored a useful 2-1 win over the Etonians, a victory which had the gloss taken off it slightly by the forced concession of third pair. The Etonians then kept themselves in the hunt with a resounding 3-0 win over Old Carthusians 1, who have yet to get into their stride this season and who have their work cut out after Christmas if they are to repeat their top half finish of last year.

The title race is also beginning to hot up in Division 3. Both Lancing Old Boys and the Abbey have shown good early form, picking up points regularly while perennial Division 3 contenders Windsor & Eton are lurking menacingly in mid-table with games in hand. Quickest out of the blocks so far, though, have been Team Westway, with new skipper Freddie Rowe calling on an array of stars to bolster their ranks as they threaten to sweep all before them. Can anyone stop them in the New Year?