Squash

Yorkshire League

There might be a chasing pack but it looks odds on Harrogate Squash to take the First Division title in the League.

Squash served up their 13th win of the season, beating Thorp Perrow 2-1 away to keep well ahead of rivals.

They now have 149 points while second placed Harlow, who have a match in hand, are on 129. Squash II and Thorp Perrow remain rank outsiders.

And even if Harlow do win their spare match - and gain maximum points from it - they would still be eight points adrift of the table-toppers at this crucial stage of the season.

Fleet-footed Phil Martin secured Thorp's lone win against the experienced Dave Townsend (Squash) with 9-1, 3-9, 9-4, 9-4 scorelines. The victory sparked a post match comment from the Harrogate side describing the victor as "too young and too fit."

Back from a skiing holiday Keith Parlour (Thorp) lost more cheaply than expected to Paul Hotchkiss 0-9, 3-9, 1-9 while John Hart went down to Harrogate's Colin Wilding 7-9, 9-5, 5-9, 4-9.

Harlow kept up their challenge with a 3-0 win over RAF Leeming, who once enjoyed flying high in the league but are now fighting against relegation.

Despite the clean sweep in rubbers Harlow were involved in two five game affairs before securing their victory, which included a first of the season in half a dozen matches for Dave Allenby.

Scores - Harlow 3 RAF Leeming 0 (Harlow names first): Warren Cunningham beat Dave Smiley 7-9, 9-4, 9-4, 6-9, 9-3; Nigel Chambers beat Alan Hebb 9-2, 6-9, 9-3, 2-9, 9-7; Dave Allenby beat Richard Hebb 3-9, 9-7, 9-6, 9-4.

At the bottom of Division One Northallerton boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation with a 3-0 win at Knaresborough, pushed into second from bottom by this defeat.

All three matches went to five games in a tense affair.

RAF Leeming are now propping up the table.

Scores - Knaresborough 0 Northallerton 3 (Northallerton names first): Phil Shackleton beat James Lambley 7-9, 9-7, 9-7, 3-9, 9-3; Peter Pinkney beat Tim Russell 3-9, 9-1, 7-9, 9-7, 9-5; Neil McLean beat Gary Hatch 7-9, 9-6, 9-6, 3-9, 9-7.

In a leading Division Three clash Harlow III went to the head of the table thanks to their 2-1 victory over Knaresborough III. Harlow's win meant they replaced Knaresborough at the top,both sides having 131 points. Two promotion places are on offer with Thirsk nine points adrift of the leaders.

Scores - Division One: Thorp Perrow 1 (Phil Martin) Harrogate Squash 2 (Paul Hotchkiss, Colin Wilding); Harlow 3 (Warren Cunningham, Nigel Chambers, Dave Allenby) RAF Leeming 0; Bedale 2 (Alan Peirson, Dave Horner) Harlow II 1 (Dave McGrath); Knaresborough 0 Northallerton 3 (Phil Shackleton, Peter Pinkney, Neil McLean).

Division Two: Wensleydale II 3 (Jim Forbes, Richard Phillips, Jonathan Scott) Bedale II 0; Wensleydale III 1 (Tony Warrington) Pateley Bridge 2 (Ben Bolton, Chris Lennox); Thirsk II 1 (Nigel Laws) Thirsk 2 (Steve Whiteley, Derrick Jenkinson).

Division Three: Knaresborough III 1 (Adrian Forge) Harlow III 2 (Martyn Hall, Sophie Jacob); Harlow IV 1 (Jim McGuinness) Thirsk III 2 (Mark Fox, Joe Coomber) Bedale III 2 (Andrew Hawkswell, Mike Lumley) Squash IV 1 (Karen Leake).