Northallerton skipper Peter Pinkney ended up at hospital after injuring himself in a quarter final cup clash.

Disaster struck for Pinkney in the second game of his clash against Harrogate Squash Club player Stuart Macdonald.

Pinkney was forced to pull out of the match when he damaged his achilles tendon and was taken to hospital by team colleague Keith Johnson.

Pinkney was trailing 6-9 0-9 when he suffered the injury.

Earlier, Pinkney had alerted league secretary Chris Lennox to a player crisis. Because of injuries to other players - and absence on business - Pinkney announced he would not be able to field a full team. Two rubbers had to be conceded by Northallerton before a ball was struck.

Not surprisingly Northallerton lost their Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire cup match clash against Harrogate Squash B team 5-0.

Match scores - Harrogate Squash B 5 Northallerton 0 (Harrogate names first): Martin Wickenden beat Steve Hodgson 9-6 9-4 9-7; Steve Ross beat Keith Johnson 0-9 10-8 9-6 9-7; Stuart Macdonald beat Peter Pinkney 9-6 9-0, retired injured. Harrogate players Dave Dodwell and Bob Peacock both had walk-overs.

Meanwhile Bedale pulled off a surprise win by defeating holders Harrogate Squash first team in the quarter finals.

Bedale's Phil Martin secured a clear-cut win at first string against Dave Townsend with Alan Peirson and Mike Richardson taking Bedale's other wins.

Bedale, who won the plate championship last season, will now face Knaresborough in the semi-final on February 19. Bedale will have home advantage.

Harlow also went through to the last four with a 5-0 win over Thirsk.

Match scores - Bedale 3 Harrogate Squash 2 (Bedale names first): Phil Martin beat Dave Townsend 9-6 9-4 9-7; Dave Smiley lost to Paul Hotchkiss 7-9 6-9 9-5 10-8 7-9; Alan Peirson beat Colin Wilding 9-7 9-5 8-10 9-7; Dave Horner lost to John Alderson, walk over.

B Plate Quarter Finals: Harrogate Squash E 4 Knaresborough B 1; Thorpe Perrow 5 Thirsk B 0.