Gullane stayed on top of the 1^st Division when they secured a hard earned draw at Royal Musselburgh on Sunday.  But despite the visitors’ dominance in the top tie it was Royal that seemed more likely to secure the win with Willie & Liam Reid quickly taking the second match and Shepherd & Millar securing an equally impressive win at the tail.  But Wright & Houlston came through for the visitors on the 17th before Smith & Thomson eventually shared their tie with Blair & Fee.

Whether this was a point gained or a point dropped for the defending champions remains to be seen, but nearest challengers Musselburgh made the most of their opportunity recording a narrow win at Dunbar to complete a season double against Marc Simants’ team and join the leaders on nine points.

So the stage is set for a showdown between the top two at Gullane on 4^th January.  With a few key matches still to go it may not quite be a title decider, but whichever side loses out will know they’ve let a big opportunity slip through their fingers.

After a home defeat to the same opponents in October Alex Chisholm’s side will need to be on top form if they are to beat the champions on their own turf.  As for Dunbar, they looked to be real title contenders when they did just that a few weeks ago, but with a solitary point to show from two home matches in December they now find themselves in a scrap to avoid relegation.

In the bottom of the table clash North Berwick secured their first win of the campaign away to the Glen, and the 2013 champions now look forward the visit of Royal Musselburgh early in the New Year knowing they must keep up their winning ways to have a chance for survival in the top flight.