A side whose late challenge for the title faded on the final furlong made a convincing start to the new season in Division One.

Adel toppled last season's runners up Ilkley 3-0 away with skipper Mark Ambler leading by example, taking a straight games victory over Gareth Hutchinson.

Ilkley 0 Adel 3 (Adel names first): Mark Ambler beat Gareth Hutchinson 10-8 6-9 9-4 9-2; Steve Glynn beat Andrew Hutchinson 9-3 9-3 9-1; Jonty Hodgson beat Phil Maunsell 10-9 5-9 0-9 9-1 9-5.

Moortown, who aimed to put behind them a disappointing season after finishing mid-table, came a 3-0 cropper in their opening match against Nomads.

In what had been expected to be a close encounter only the first string clash went to five games.

Moortown 0 Nomads 3 (Nomads names first): Andy Hall beat Robin Mannell 9-7 9-6 7-9 6-9 9-6; John Riley beat Steve Evans 9-5 10-8, 9-5; Jonathan Round beat Geoff Mortimer 9-0 9-6 5-9 9-5.

Newly-promoted Knaresborough were beaten 2-1 in their clash against Ilkley II who were also promoted last season.

Knaresborough first string John Lambley beat Jon Pownall 9-2 9-7 0-9 9-6, but John Evans and Gary Hatch both went down. Evans lost 0-9 6-9 3-9 to Nick Sutcliffe with Hatch going losing 9-7 5-9 6-9 1-9.

Last season's wooden spoonists Army Foundation College, who had to cancel six matches because of upheaval caused by the war in Iraq, are promising a better challenge in Division Three.

They finished last season with 19 points, having lost 24 through cancellation of fixtures.

Although they did not win their opening Division Three clash this term they did produce a spirited performance in going down to Harrogate Squash V 2-1.

Paul O'Donnell took the Army rubber with Peter Cronin and Ian Bexon taking victories for the Squash side.

Divsion One: Collingham 1 (Anthony Kettlewell) Harlow 2 (Tom Ellis, Dave McGrath); Chapel Allerton 2 (Paul Fotherby, Jim Denmark) Chapel Allerton II 1 (Mark Sellers); Ilkley 0 Adel 3 (Mark Ambler, Steve Glynn, Jonty Hodgson); Knaresborough 1 (James Lambley) Ilkley II 2 (Nick Sutcliffe, Tom Songhurst).

Division Two: Squash III 2 (Steve Ross, Steve Gibson) Squash IV 1 (Ken Hughes); Bedale 0 Moortown II 3 (Nigel Lister, Carl Knowles, John Kay); Harlow II 0 Collingham II 3 (Andy Shaw, Brian Manson, Dave Rushton); Otley 3 (Matt Wood, Chris Lawton, Steve Thackwray) Ilkley III 0; Harlow III 2 (Paul Fairhurst, Sophie Jacob) Boroughbridge 1 (Stuart Rennison).

Division Three: Ripon 1 (John Bailey) Harlow IV 2 (Barry Carter, John Lovell) Pateley Bridge 2 (Chris Lennox, Bill Hannay) Moortown III 1 (Steve Morley); Army Foundation College 1 (Paul O'Donnell) Squash V 2 (Peter Cronin, Ian Bexon); Boroughbridge II 0 Otley II 3 (Mark Drury, Paul Hickman, Dave Barry); Moortown IV 0 Knaresborough III 3 (Adrian Forge, Phil Smelt, Chris Robinson).