Champions Bedale kicked off with a winning start in defence of their Division One title.

They defeated Pateley Bridge 3-0 away with victories by Dave Smiley, Alan Peirson and Mike Richardson.

Bedale achieved the clean sweep despite lacking the services of their top player Phil Martin.

But Pateley, who were promoted to the top flight this season, had to field their second stringers amid an early season player crisis.

Steve Ball and Chris Lennox where both unavailable while Steve Terry was away on business.

Match scores - Pateley Bridge 0 Bedale 3 (Bedale names first): Dave Smiley beat James Gaston 9-2 9-7 9-7; Alan Peirson beat Dave Mann 9-5 8-10 9-0 9-5; Mike Richardson beat Bill Hannay 2-9 9-6 9-6 9-4.

Meanwhile Thirsk who were promoted as Division Two champions also found the going tough, losing 2-1 to Northallerton, but coming close to pulling off victory. The clash involving Thirsk's Steve Snodgrass and Trish Kohanick could not have been closer with just one point separating the rivals in the fifth game.

Kohanick, who plays in the Yorkshire Women's League for Thirsk, took the match 9-6 9-0 1-9 7-9 10-9.

Match scores (Thirsk names first): Steve Whiteley beat Keith Johnson 9-5 9-2 9-4; Paul Goacher lost to Peter Pinkney 7-9 6-9 4-9; Steve Snodgrass lost to Trish Kohanick 6-9 0-9 9-1, 9-7 9-10.

Thirsk have entered an additional side this season being captained by Ian Parry.

Division One: Pateley Bridge 0 Bedale 3 (Dave Smiley, Alan Peirson, Mike Richardson); Harrogate Squash II 3 (Martin Wickenden, Bob Peacock, Dave Dodwell); Thirsk 1 (Steve Whiteley) Northallerton 2 (Peter Pinkney, Trish Kohanick).

Division Two: Knaresborough II 2 (Gary Hatch, Peter Bottomley) Boroughbridge 1 (Joe Royle); Bedale III 1 (John Abbotson) Thirsk II 2 (Mark Fox, Jon Harrison).

Division Three: Harlow III 0 Wensleydale IV 3 (Mark Southcote, John Chilton, James Iveson); Knaresborough III 1 (Paul Jackson) Thirsk IV 2 (Ian Parry, Paul Wrightson); Thirsk III 0 Pateley Bridge II 3 (Chris Lennox, Andy Balsdon, Colin Tee); Harrogate Squash IV 2 (Duncan Hill, John Elsworth) Harrogate Squash V 1 (James Styrin).