Towns still look odds on to complete a hat-trick of titles but new threats have emerged leading into Christmas

As we reach the mid-point of the season and the Christmas break, here’s how the teams are faring and what to look out for in the new year. BLUFF POINT: 7W/4L currently 2nd The Pointers used to find ways to lose, now they find ways to win. Their batting is iffy but that’s true at every club in a season with no centuries so far. Still, Carl Shilling, Jayden Pinto and Jay O’Brien have been good and Matt Russell, Callum and Aaron Joss and Aaron Thomas are capable. Russell, Antonio Paradella, Shilling and Mitch McAuliffe have 17 or more wickets, with back-up from Callum Joss and Thomas. Synopsis: Premiership material. Most runs: C. Shilling 199 at 24.87, J. Pinto 187 at 18.70, J.J. O’Brien 175 at 25.00; Most wickets: M.M. Russell 23 at 10.60, A.M. Paradella 20 at 15.35, C. Shilling 19 at 10.21; Players used: 19; Highlight: Jay O’Brien’s faith that Antonio Paradella, a part time, mostly B-grade bowler at Sportsmans, is a talent. CHAPMAN VALLEY-NORTHAMPTON: 2W/10L currently 5th CVN’s batting has been woeful with Nigel Routledge’s aggregate the best of a poor crop. Only Kurt Crudeli, who has the team’s only 50, has a passable average. The bowling has been better with Cody Slootmans handy and also making some runs along with Mitch Marsh, Jack Mickle and one to watch, Zak Williamson. Synopsis: Can only improve. Most runs: N. Routledge 166 at 13.83, A. Hutchinson 145 at 13.18, K. Crudeli 142 at 17.75; Most wickets: C. Slootmans 18 at 16.38, M. Marsh 16 at 19.56; Players used: 23; Highlight: Defending 5-113 against Wanderers to win a T20. SPORTSMANS: 5W/5L currently 4th Vying with the Wanderers for a finals spot. Need top and middle order to fire because their tail is long, Jarrod Jupp is one of the comp’s star all-rounders as is Aaron McAuliffe though he’d like more runs. Clint Yeates has been best with the bat with six-smashing Flynn Dillon very entertaining and Darcy Ingle solid. Andrew Korol has shone with the ball as have Jupp and McAuliffe while Dan Welsh, when available, spins his web. Synopsis: Will make the finals and also the T20 final. Most runs: C. Yeates 226 at 28.25, J.E. Jupp 172 at 19.11, F. Dillon 148 at 21.14; Most wickets: J.E. Jupp 17 at 17.76, A. Korol 15 at 9.13, A. McAuliffe 13 at 20.38; Players used: 21; Highlight: Clint Yeates’ 10,000th career run. TOWNS: 8W/3L currently 1st Towns are on track for a premiership hat-trick. Their batting features Brady Collins, Callum Marquis, Sam Crouch and Kodi Giltrow with 155 or more runs and others with the pedigree if not the numbers so far. There are many options with the ball. Austin Breen, Josh DeLacy, Collins, Tom Forsyth, Ringo McKenna and Giltrow have 10 or more wickets. Synopsis: Not dominating but well placed for the flag. Most runs: B.D. Collins 279 at 27.90, S. Crouch 261 at 23.72, K. Giltrow 198 at 22.00; Most wickets: G.R. McKenna 21 at 7.71, B.D. Collins 16 at 11.87, T. Forsyth 14 at 13.00; Players used: 20; Highlight: Success developing young players. WANDERERS: 5W/5L currently 3rd Wanderers are resurgent with four wins from their past five games. Kade Gillingham has been reliable with the bat, especially under pressure. Clayton Bruce-Cherry, Jason Partington and Shayne Bidwell also have in excess of 150 runs but after them, stocks are low. Bruce-Cherry, Ian Oglesby and Partington have 10 or more wickets but Bidwell and Mitch Thompson are also quality bowlers. Synopsis: If they make the finals, they will be hard to stop. Most runs: K.W. Gillingham 294 at 32.66, J. Partington 264 at 26.40, S. Bidwell 174 at 21.75; Most wickets: C. Bruce-Cherry 20 at 9.20, J. Partington at 10.33, I. Oglesby 13 at 15.92; Players used: 21; Highlight: In the making, Shayne Bidwell’s 600th wicket to go with his 10,000 runs.