IN THE Evalast Merit Awards both Terry Wood with nine points and Tony Dobson (eight) are virtually neck and neck as they both remain undefeated after six games.

The point between has occurred because Terry has played one more away fixture than Tony.

Both men are setting a tremendous pace and with the season only a quarter way through, they seem likely to break all records.

Third placed John Neville, who has regularly achieved a top six place, will not easily be shaken off the chase and with just one reverse in six looks set for a good campaign.

Malcolm Wensley is within reach of retaining his title with seven points along with team mates Glyn Dodd and Stuart Gall has scored well after an early season loss.

Previous champion Frank Herbert has made most progress up the leaderboard after two successive away wins and has moved from 16 to seventh overall.

Newcomer Alan Lancaster has made a big impression already and seven points is an excellent score from six starts.

Andy Lowe is once again in a top position with seven points and a massive 57 total.

Aldo Staffa is clear leader at Witton and his latest 21-9 away win completed four wins out of six.

It was all change at Alexandra where Peter Renwick has taken over as number one from David Hoyle who loses out for second place to Kevin Thompson.

Leaderboard: Terry Wood (St Annes) 9 points, 44 total; Tony Dobson (Great Harwood) 8, 58; John Neville (Brownedge) 8, 18; Andrew Lowe (Norden) 7, 57; Alan Lancaster (Birches) 7, 32; Malcolm Wensley (Great Harwood) 7, 26; Frank Herbert (Rose N'Bowl) 7, 12; Graham Pilkington (Farington) 7, 2; Nigel Smith (Norden) 6, 32; Geoff Pugh (Brownedge) 6, 26; Dave Brnish (Brownedge) 6, 22; Glyn Dodd (Great Harwood) 6, 19; Peter Renwick (Alexandra) 6, 10; Aldo Staffa (Witton) 6, level; Bill Cropper (Norden) 6, level; Dave Darley (Brownedge) 5, 34; Stuart Gall (Great Harwood) 5, 32; Chris Pickup (Farington) 5, 28; Jim Kenny (St Annes) 5, 21; Kevin Thompson (Alexandra) 5, 17; Barry Sowerby (Nroden) 5, 13; Brian Oakes (Norden) 5, 10; Paul Ferguson (Lostock Hall) 56, level; Phil Wood (Lostock Hall) 4, 35; John M Newton (Lostock Hall) 4, 30; David Hoyle (Alexandra) 4, 30.