Harrogate Squash won their second successive key top-of-the-table clash in Division One.

They beat Ilkley 2-1, pushing their rivals into third place.

Currently Adel, beaten the previous week by Harrogate, are top on 83 points from seven wins in eight outings.

Squash are second on 78 points, also seven wins from eight with Ilkley third on 76 points. The Wharfedale club have lost twice in eight matches.

A double defeat for Ilkley brothers Gareth and Andy Hutchinson paved the way for Harrogate's victory, Tony Nowakowski beating Gareth in a five game tussle while Martin Wickenden toppled Andy 3-1.

But while Harrogate were beating Ilkley 2-1 Adel clocked up bonus points by defeating Collingham 3-0 away.

Ilkley's battle for the title has not been helped by returning a late result which has resulted in four penalty points. Without that loss they would be above Harrogate in second place.

Scores - Harrogate Squash 2 Ilkley 1 (Harrogate names first): Tony Nowakowski beat Gareth Hutchinson 6-9, 8-10, 9-4, 9-3,9-7; Martin Wickenden beat Any Hutchinson 9-3, 9-1, 4-9, 9-1; Nicola Pratt lost to Phil Maunsell 9-10, 5-9, 7-9.

Nicola Pratt's defeat was one of her rare setbacks this season in which she has clocked up some impressive victories against male rivals.

Collingham 0 Adel 3 (Adel names first): Mark Ambler beat Anthony Kettlewell 7-9, 9-4, 9-6,9-4; Sean Fleming beat William Shucksmith 5-9, 9-2, 9-5, 9-2; Jonty Hodgson beat Andrew Gardiner 10-8, 9-4, 2-9, 9-5.

Champions Scott Hall again had their colours lowered this season - this time by Harrogate Squash II team.

Scores (Scott Hall names first): Ian Cawthorne lost to Simon Myring 3-9, 9-7, 9-2, 8-10, 6-9; Scott Wilson beat Dave Townsend 9-4, 9-0, 9-2; Ben Milner lost to Paul Hotchkiss 5-9, 6-9, 3-9.

Harrogate's Army Foundation College broke their duck this term winning for the first time - by 2-1 against Ripon.

Their No 1 and captain Lieut Pam Butterfant could not turn the tables on Ripon's Neil Jackson, going down 0-3. But Martin Devitt and Dickie Hamzat served up winning hands to secure the Army side victory. The side joined the league last year.

Division One: Scott Hall 1 (Scott Wilson) Harrogate Squash II 2 (Simon Myring, Paul Hotchkiss); Harrogate Squash 2 (Tony Nowakowski, Martin Wickenden) Ilkley 1 (Phil Maunsell); Collingham 0 Adel 3 (Mark Ambler, Sean Fleming, Jonty Hodgson); Harlow 2 (Steve Smith, Steve Ingram) Moortown 1 (Geoff Mortimer).

Division Two: Moortown II 2 (Steve Joseph, John Kay) Harlow II 1 (John Graham); Harrogate Squash III 2 (Ivan Patchett, Steve Whiteley) Ilkley II 1 (Tom Songhurst); Ilkley II 3 (Jonty Hawkes, Neal Cowan, Roger Goodwin-Jones); Harrogate Squash IV 3 (Ivan Berrill, Jeff Brown, Adam Hughes) Harlow III 0.

Division Three: Army Foundation College 2 (Martin Devitt, Dickie Hamzat) Ripon 1 (Neil Jackson); Harlow IV 3 (Paul Fairhurst, Dan Lupton, Sophie Jacob) Moortown IV 0; Knaresborugh III 2 (Andy McMillan, Phil Smelt) Collingham IV 1 (Mark Sweeting); Boroughbridge II 1 (Rob Hayhurst) Harrogate Squash V 2 (Bruce Ramsey, Peter Cronin); Pateley Bridge 1 (Bob Spain) Bedale 2 (Keith Parlour, John Abbotson); Collingham III 2 (Nick Johnson, Dave Rushton) Knaresborough 1 (John Evans); Moortown III 3 (Steve Morley, Phil Maher, Mark Westmancoat) Otley II 0.

Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League

Veteran Dave Booth served up a remarkable double victory for his Wensleydale club on the same night.

Booth took to the court for Wensleydale third team in Division Two, helping them to a 3-0 win over Bedale III.

And Booth was also victorious in Division One for the first team, aiding their 3-0 victory over Northallerton.

Fortunately for Booth both matches were held at the Leyburn-based Wensleydale club, but his feat underlined his fitness tremendous fitness in playing two maktches on the same evening - and securing victories in both clashes.

His first team win came when he defeated Ian Hounsome 9-7, 3-9, 9-7, 1-9, 10-9. Victory for Wensleydale III saw Booth hitting back to beat Andrew Sedgwick 7-9, 9-1, 9-2 9-6.

A league spokesman said Booth had come to the aid of the third team when they were short of players. "It was pretty impressive stuff for a veteran player," said the league official.

Bedale have been dislodged from top place in Division One following Harrogate Squash II team's 3-0 away victory at Knaresborough. Harrogate are now four points ahead of Bedale having won their match in hand.

Scores - Knaresborough 0 Harrogate Squash II 3 (Harrogate names first): Ivan Patchett beat Tim Russell 9-2,7-9, 9-7, 6-9, 9-4; Bob Peacock beat John Evans 9-4, 6-9, 9-6, 5-9, 9-3; Dave Dodwell beat Martyn Gibson 8-10, 9-7, 9-3, 9-7.

Patchett, the former South Milford and Harlow player, was making his debut for squash in the league, having earlier taken two breaks from the courts.

In Division Two Pateley Bridge gathered a maximum 12 points from their 3-0 win at Knaresborough II. The clear-cut victory moved them from fifth to top spot in the division, three points ahead of Thirsk II.