level pegging

Probably from the pegging in a cribbage board used to keep track of player's scores.^[1]

level pegging (not comparable)

1. (of two contestants) equal (having the same number of points, or being in the same position)
   • 1959 November, O. S. Nock, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 785:

     The merest glance at the details is enough to show that there was some very level-pegging between the two locomotives.