Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League

Northallerton served up a major surprise by ending the unbeaten record of Squash.

The 2-1 victory means that Bedale extend their lead over second placed Squash in Division One.

For while Squash were slipping up on their banana skin Bedale collected the maximum 12 points with a 3-0 home win over Knaresborough. Bedale now lead the division by ten points over Harrogate Squash, both having played seven matches.

The biggest individual surprise of Northallerton's victory came at second string when Phil Shackleton hit back from a two game deficit to beat Nigel Heward while Keith Johnson had a straight games success.

Scores - Northallerton 2 Harrogate Squash 1 (Northallerton names first): Steve Hodgson lost to Paul Hotchkiss 9-5, 3-9, 0-9, 1-9; Phil Shackleton beat Nigel Heward 2-9, 5-9, 9-4, 9-2, 9-2; Keith Johnson beat Dave Townsend 9-6, 9-6, 9-5.

Bedale's 3-0 win over Knaresborough came with the following scorelines (Bedale names first): Phil Martin beat James Lambley 7-9, 8-10, 9-5, 9-2, 9-5; Dave Smiley beat John Evans 9-7, 0-9, 7-9, 9-3, 9-4; Alan Peirson beat Andy McMillan 9-7, 9-2, 5-9, 9-3.

Thirsk stay top in Division Two after their 3-0 success against Pateley Bridge, who are in second spot. Thirsk lead the way with seven straight wins and 77 points. Pateley have won five of their seven matches and have 66 points.

Scores - Thirsk 3 Pateley Bridge 0 (Thirsk names first): Paul Goacher beat Steve Ball 9-4, 2-9, 10-8, 9-3; Steve Lacy beat Steve Terry 9-4, 9-8, 7-9, 9-0; Derrick Jenkinson beat Chris Lennox 9-6, 9-4, 0-9, 9-4.

Division One: Northallerton 2 (Phil Shackleton, Keith Johnson) Harrogate Squash 1 (Paul Hotchkiss); Bedale 3 (Phil Martin, Dave Smiley, Alan Peirson) Knaresborough 0; Otley 2 (John Bailey, Steve Thackwray) Bedale II 1 (Dave Wheatley).

Division Two: Thirsk 3 (Paul Goacher, Steve Lacy, Derrick Jenkinson) Pateley Bridge 0; Bedale III 1 (Andrew Sedgwick) Bedale IV 2 (John Abbotson, Mike Lumley); Harlow II 2 (Paul Fairhurst, Dan Lupton) Knaresborough II 1 (Martyn Gibson).

Division Three: Thirsk III 0 Boroughbridge 3 (Simon Robinson, Joe Royle, Nigel Wick); Wensleydale IV 3 (Mike Margerison, James Iveson, Chris Taplin); Harlow III 2 (Jim McGuinness, Dave Parker) Knaresborough III 1 (Chris Robinson); Pateley Bridge II 2 (James Gaston, John Knocker) Harrogate Squash IV 1 (Ian Woodhead).

Kall Kwik Harrogate and District League

The First Division title race went into overdrive as the three leading sides - Adel, Harrogate Squash and Ilkley all won their latest matches.

League leaders Adel have a six point lead over Harrogate following their 2-1 away win against former title holders Moortown.

But Harrogate's 2-1 win at Harlow meant they could not close the gap on the North Leeds side.

Harlow's Tom Ellis spiked Harrogate guns when he achieved his side's only victory, hitting a purple patch as he brushed aside the challenge of teenager Adam Nowakowski 9-1, 9-2, 9-1.

But victories by Adam's father Tony and Martin Wickenden secured the Harrogate victory.

Tony Nowakowski defeated Nigel Chambers 6-9, 9-3, 9-5, 9-4 while Wickenden beat Steve Smith 9-6, 9-1, 9-4.

Third placed Ilkley secured full points for their 3-0 win against Collingham, but have been left to rue the loss of four points this season for tabling a late result. Ilkley are two points behind Harrogate and eight adrift of Adel.

Scott Hall hopes of retaining the title have all but vanished following their 2-1 defeat by neighbours Chapel Allerton. The Chapel Allerton side again fielded Nick Murrills who dispatched former Yorkshire county player Ian Cawthorne 9-4, 9-7, 9-2. Murrills is making his first appearance in the league this season.

Division One: Harlow 1 (Tom Ellis) Harrogate Squash 2 (Martin Wickenden, Tony Nowakowski); Moortown 1 (Geoff Mortimer) Adel 2 (Mark Ambler, Jon Hodgson); Chapel Allerton 2 (Nick Murrills, Nick King) Scott Hall 1 (Mark Sellers); Ilkley 3 (Gareth Hutchinson, Andy Hutchinson, Phil Maunsell) Collingham 0; Collingham II 0 Nomads 3 (John Riley, Joe Wilson, one walk-over); Harrogate Squash II 3 (Simon Myring, Mark Harding, Tim Russell) Otley 0.

Division Two: Knaresborough II 0 Harlow II 3 (John Graham, James Hanaway, Steve Ingram); Knaresborough 3 (James Lambley, John Evans, Gary Hatch) Harrogate Squash III 0; Harrogate Squash IV 1 (Adam Hughes) Collingham III 2 (Andy Shaw, Dave Rushton); Harlow III 1 (Dave Allenby) Ilkley III 2 (John Pownall, John Henderson); Boroughbridge 1 (Simon Robinson) Mootown II 2 (Carl Knowles, John Kay).

Division Three: Harrogate Squash V 2 (Brian Williamson, Christine Downing) Moortown IV 1 (Steve Holroyde); Moortown III 1 (Steve Morley) Pateley Bridge 2 (Chris Lennox, Bill Hannay); Boroughbridge II 3 (Dave Flintoff, Colin Leftly, Rob Hayhurst) Knaresborough III 0; Otley II 3 (Paul Hickman, Jonathan Smith, Dave Barry) Ripon 0; Collingham IV 0 Harlow IV 3 (Dan Lupton, Sophie Jacob, Paul Fairhurst).