Squash

Holders Harrogate defeated Ripon 3-2 in last year's final. But when Harrogate take to the courts this season they will find some familiar Ripon names lining up against them.

At the start of this season Ripon were taken over by Otley after a nomadic existence following development of their courts for housing.

The league had to give special permission for Otley to play in the league because they are just outside the North Yorkshire boundary.

At least three of the five-man Otley team will have former Ripon connections.

They are Matt Wood, who came through the junior ranks at Ripon; John Bailey and Steve Thackwray.

Harrogate, not surprisingly, reached the final by defeating their second team in the semis 4-1.

Otley had a harder battle on their hands at Leyburn where they defeated Wensleydale 3-2.

Some key players were missing from the match. Wensleydale were without Alex Laing, who was unavailable and Otley's Chris Lawton, along with Wensleydale's Dave Booth, were both absent from their sides.

A venue for the final has yet to be announced, but it is likely to be Bedale.

Match Scores: Harrogate Squash 4 Harrogate Squash B 1 (winning team names first): Simon Myring beat Adam Nowakowski 9-6, 9-6, 9-6; Dave Townsend lost to Martin Wickenden 2-9, 5-9, 7-9; Paul Hotchkiss beat Nicola Pratt 9-7, 7-9, 4-9, 9-2, 9-5; Mark Harding beat Bob Peacock 9-4, 9-7, 9-7; Colin Wilding, walk-over.

Wensleydale 2 Otley 3 (Wensleydale names first): Keith Parlour beat Rod Erridge 4-9, 5-9, 9-8, 9-6, 9-7; Nick Brown lost to Matt Wood 4-9, 6-9, 9-10; Gary Hynes lost to John Bailey 9-7, 7-9, 5-9, 4-9; Robert Dent lost to Steve Thackwray 4-9, 9-2, 9-7, 7-9, 1-9; Jim Forbes beat Brian Westerman 10-8, 8-10, 9-6, 10-9.

Other semi finals

B competition: Catterick Garrison 1 (Joe Rawthorne) Harlow 4 (Dan Lupton, Dave Allenby, Martyn Hall, Paul Fairhurst). Harrogate Squash C 2 (Adam Hughes, Ian Woodhead) Boroughbridge 3 (Simon Robinson, Joe Royle, Tony Rennison).

Plate A competition: Harlow A 4 (Tom Ellis, Dave McGrath, James Hannaway, John Graham); Pateley Bridge 1 (Bill Hannay); Bedale A 3 (Phil Martin, Alan Peirson, Dave Horner) Thirsk A 2 (Steve Whiteley, Derrick Jenkinson).

Plate B competition: Bedale B 1 (Andy Hawkswell) Thirsk B 4 (Nigel Laws, Mark Fox, Jon Harrison, Andrea Mayne); Knaresborough B 2 (Peter Bottomley, Phil Smelt) RAF Leeming 3 (Phil Hopkins, Steve Grant, Chris Heames).

Harrogate Squash turned out a strong side to topple championship rivals Adel in a key Kall Kwik Harrrogate and District Squash League First Division clash.

Harrogate's 3-0 win moved them into second place with Adel dropping to third. Harrogate's fast rising junior Adam Nowakowski defeated Mark Ambler after a whirlwind start from which his rival never really recovered. Nowakowski took the match 9-0, 9-0, 3-9, 9-4.

Adam's father Tony Nowakowski hit back to beat Sean Fleming 7-9, 9-7, 9-1, 9-3 while there was a straight games victory for Martin Wickenden. He beat Jon Hodgson 9-3, 9-2, 9-5.

Ilkley still lead the First Division after their 2-1 away win over Harlow, brothers Gareth and Andrew Hutchinson taking the rubbers for the table-toppers. Harlow's winner was Doug Moffat.

lkley are now on 177 points, Harrogate Squash have now closed the gap to two points while Adel have 166, all three sides having played 18 matches.

Kall Kwik Harrogate and District League

Division One: Harrogate Squash 3 (Adam Nowakowski, Tony Nowakowski, Martin Wickenden) Adel 0; Harlow 1 (Doug Moffat) Ilkley 2 (Gareth Hutchinson, Andy Hutchinson); Chapel Allerton 3 (Nick Murrills, Mark Pinkerton, Miles Gooseman) Harrogate Squash II 0; Scott Hall 1 (Scott Wilson) Nomads 2 (John Riley, Jon Round); Collingham 1 (Paul Hill) Moortown 2 (Robin Mannell, Phil Davis).

Division Two: Collingham III 0 Ilkley III 3 (Jon Pownall, Tom Songhurst, John Henderson); Moortown II 2 (Nick Jezeph, John Kay) Knaresborough II 1 (Adrian Forge); Harrogate Squash III 2 (Steve Whiteley, Steve Terry) Harlow III 1 (Jim McGuinness); Harrogate Squash IV 1 (Paul Duncalf) Knaresborough 2 (James Lambley, Gary Hatch); Ilkley II 3 (Jonty Hawkes, Neal Cowan, Roger Goodwin-Jones) Harlow II 0.

Division Three: Moortown III 2 (Phil Maher, Mark Westmancoat) Bedale 1 (Phil Martin); Boroughbridge II 2 (Dave Flintoft, Rob Hayhurst) Collingham IV 1 (Toby Morton); Harlow IV 3 (Dan Lupton, Paul Fairhurst, Martyn Hall) Harrogate Squash V 0; Knaresborough III 2 (Phil Smelt, Ian Webber) Moortown IV 1 (Martyn Wilkinson); Pateley Bridge 1 (Bob Spain) Ripon 2 (Tony Rennison, Val Gears).