Pontefract move to within one win of retaining Yorkshire Premier title
Pontefract 1 are now just one win away from defending their Yorkshire Premier League squash title after their 19-6 victory at Doncaster.
Doncaster, title winners in 2023/24, brought world no.63 Simon Herbert back into their line-up alongside recently crowned English junior champion Dylan Roberts. However, Ponte also beefed up their selection with England international Patrick Rooney and Scotland's Rory Stewart back in the side.
But it was Ponte's lower order who ended the contest pretty quickly, with captain and number four Matt Godson defeating a rusty Joel Arscott and Adam Taylor beating Pontefract-born Asia Harris in four games at number five.
Ponte's Brad Fullick then won an all-Aussie battle at number three against David Turner to seal the five winning bonus points.
Number two Stewart outgunned young Roberts in three before Herbert restored some home pride by conquering Rooney in a five-game thriller, 11-7, 5-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8.
The Yorkshire Premier League now takes a three-week break. On its resumption Pontefract 1 host Hallamshire with a 37-point lead at the top and a game in hand. If they win, they will mathematically seal a second consecutive title and their sixth overall.
At the other end of the table Pontefract 2 eased any lingering fears of relegation despite bein g edged out by mid-table Queens.
Although Cory Harding, Jordan Hardwick and Phil McSweeney were all successful for the hosts, number five Danny Siddall and Kiwi number one Kwamba Chileshe grabbed consolation wins for the Ponte side to earn valuable points.
The relegation dogfight between Cleethorpes and 2022/23 champions Hallamshire seems set to go to the brink after both lost again.
Hallamshire went down 18-6 at home to fourth-placed Harrogate as Richard Hinds, Isaac Green, former world no.20 Chris Simpson and Wales international Rhys Evans all won in four games. Adam Turner was Hallamshire's sole victor.
Cleethorpes' defeat was a little narrower as they were downed 14-6 by second-placed Dunnington. The Lincolnshire club actually took a 2-0 lead thanks to rapid lower-order wins for Charlie Jubbs and Louie Truman, but Jamie Brown, Amaad Fareed and Owain Taylor then won in straight games to dramatically reverse the match's momentum.