Pontefract 1 leapt to the top of the Yorkshire Premier League for the first time this season as action resumed on Wednesday night following the Christmas break.

The famous West Yorkshire club, who haven't lifted the country's premier club league trophy since 2009/10, were brilliant winners of this week's clash with fellow title contenders Dunnington.

As a result of their 18-5 victory, Ponte 1 take a slender three-point lead ahead of a tightly-bunched chasing pack which, as well as Dunnington, also includes Doncaster, Queens, Harrogate and defending champions Hallamshire.

World No.21 Hollie Naughton was first up for Ponte and took care of Dunnington's Ed Shannon in four games. Ponte club captain Matt Godson had few issues with Matthew Stephenson and Adam Taylor was also a straight-games victor.

That sealed the five bonus points and although former England international Chris Simpson clawed back three points for Dunnington at second string, Ponte finished the night in style as New Zealander Elijah Thomas battled to a four-game win over Welshman Owain Taylor (just one night after the pair had faced each other in the North West Counties League, where the result was reversed).

In another table-topping duel, former leaders Doncaster sealed a fine 17-5 victory over 2021/22 champions Queens of Halifax.

Asia Harris, in her first Yorkshire League match without goggles (she graduated from the junior ranks on her 19th birthday before Christmas) lost to Lowri Roberts at fifth string, but the other four ties all went the way of the home side.

Fourth string Will Donnelly levelled matters before Kiwi Joel Arscott won a pivotal clash 12/10 in the fifth against renowned coach Josh Taylor. Doncaster's high-class top two of world No.56 Simon Herbert and Scottish No.1 Greg Lobban sealed the bonus points (although even in defeat, the match with Lobban was great experience for Queens' 19-year-old wonderkid Finnlay Withington).

The result leaves third-placed Queens nine points behind Doncaster in second. Behind Queens only on points difference are ever-improving Harrogate who thrashed Abbeydale 20-1 to really prove their title credentials.

Richard Hinds, Declan Christie, youngster Gabriel Cox and top string Stuart MacGregor all won in breezy fashion, with only No.2 Lwamba Chileshe dropping a game, against Josh Payne. The emphatic result keeps the Straysiders one point above fifth-placed Dunnington.

Five points back in sixth, although certainly not out of the title running (18 points off the lead) are last year's title winners Harrogate.

They won at bottom side Woodfield despite the Doncaster club bringing out some big names at the top of their order. Hallamshire's Nick Wall Snr, Matt Gregory and Adam Turner bagged the win early doors, but second string George Parker landed a consolation blow by toppling triple Commonwealth champion Nick Matthew in four and the returning former world No.15 Declan James smashed Tamwa Chileshe in three to reduce Hallamshire's margin of defeat to 15-7.

Newly-promoted Ferriby Hall, meanwhile, are off the bottom of the table after posting only their second victory of the season.

It was an under-strength Pontefract 2 side which travelled to Humberside and found themselves beaten early in the evening when Ferriby Hall's lower order of Glyn Saunders, Yusef Forster and Beck Sockett all won in three.

Chester Dockray rescued three points by conquering the hosts' Guyanaise international Samuel Ince-Carvalhal, but Ben Smith resumed the theme of Ferriby dominance at top string by sinking yet another Yorkshire-based Kiwi, Mason Smales.

The victory puts eight points between Ferriby Hall and the dreaded bottom spot, with Pontefract 2 sinking to second-bottom, just three points above Woodfield.