THIS weekend marks the midway point in the South Wales Premier League season and there’s every indication that the race for the Division One title will go down to the wire.

Newport are currently in pole position, Cardiff sit second, Bridgend lie third and Port Talbot Town make up the top four.

Only nine points separate first and fourth, while the teams in fifth and sixth, Mumbles and Neath, are still within 25 points of the leaders.

By stumps tomorrow all 10 sides will have played each other at least once, with Newport, Bridgend and Neath aiming to keep their unbeaten records intact going into the second half of the campaign.

Newport, who are five points clear, host Port Talbot, four-wicket winners away to Mumbles last Saturday, at Spytty Park.

Michael Clayden’s Newport charges made the most of Cardiff and Bridgend’s bad luck with the weather to go from third to first at the end of the last round of matches.

The lead could well change hands on numerous occasions between now and the season’s end in late August, but for the moment Newport are the side to be shot at.

A win for Port Talbot may see them go to the summit, while Cardiff will be hoping to reclaim first place with a victory over Neath.

Bridgend can also seize the initiative tomorrow if they overcome Ynysygerwn at home – Mumbles host Ammanford and Swansea visit Pontarddulais in the division’s other fixtures.

Panteg could regain first place in Division Two when they welcome new leaders Penarth to Greenhill Road in Griffithstown tomorrow.

Ian Bird’s side lost their grip on top spot when their contest with Tondu was washed out, that left Penarth to move to the summit with a winning draw against Aberdare.

Along with Miskin Manor, Panteg and Penarth are unbeaten so far this season and 11 points separate them in the standings.

There is another top-of-the-table clash in South East Wales League Division One where second-placed Newbridge entertain leaders Chepstow at the Welfare Ground.

Jason Dobbie’s frontrunners, whose only defeat this season came at home against Croesyceiliog, currently hold a 10-point advantage over James Morgan’s men.

And something has got to give tomorrow with both sides go into the game searching for a fifth win on the bounce.

Chepstow were in danger of seeing their good run of form come to an end last Saturday when they were bowled out for 111 by Newport Fugitives.

Having made a promising start with the bat, Chepstow lost three wickets for one run and had Dobbie (29) and Oliver Thornhill (36no) to thank for getting them into triple digits.

Paul Swingwood then caused havoc at the start of the Fugitives’ reply, as the visitors slipped to 9-4, before being bowled out for 95, skipper Dobbie taking 4-27.

Morgan was also in the wickets as Newbridge dismissed Radyr for 127, and the captain top-scored with 32 as his side won by four wickets.

Newbridge took over in second spot following their success and defeat for Pontypridd against Sudbrook.

Michael Martin’s Sudbrook outfit will be confident of backing up that triumph when they go to Abergavenny.

The Avenue Road side fell 76 runs short against Blackwood last weekend – Abergavenny remain the only team in the division yet to win this summer.

As for Blackwood, that defeat of Geraint Leach’s troops arrested a run of three straight losses.

They go to Croesyceiliog tomorrow to take on a team that were second best to Usk in a low-scoring affair last time out.

An unbeaten 51 from Richard Rees steered Usk, who go to the Fugitives this weekend, to a three-wicket triumph.

Meanwhile, in the one remaining game in the division, Pontypridd host Radyr at Ynysangharad Park.