Relegation scrap goes into final week of squash season
With Pontefract 1 wrapping up a second consecutive title last week, attention switched to the relegation scrap in the penultimate round of the Yorkshire Premier Squash League season.
It's Cleethorpes who head into the final week in the greatest peril after newly-crowned champions Pontefract 1 thumped them 20-1 to leave the east coast club 14 points from safety.
Hovering nervously just above the dotted line are 2023/24 title winners Hallamshire, who were also soundly beaten this week 20-2 at home by Doncaster.
In the campaign's final fixtures, Hallamshire visit mid-table Queens and Cleethorpes will need a big victory at third-placed Doncaster to give themselves any hope of survival.
Cleethorpes' home defeat by the champions was wrapped up quickly as Ponte 1's lower order of Adam Taylor and Matt Godson laid the platform and number one string Sam Todd sealed the bonus points with a straight-games victory over good friend Harry Falconer.
Louie Truman got Cleethorpes' only point of the night in a 3-1 defeat to Aussie Brad Fullick at number three, before Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Rory Stewart took care of Oscar Hill at number two to complete the rout.
Hallamshire's home defeat to a strong Doncaster side was almost as emphatic. Brooke Herring did get a game off world number 86 Asia Harris but Kiwi Joel Arscott, Norfolk's Rob Thirst and British junior champion Dylan Roberts all breezed to straight-games wins.
Nick Wall, returning to his native Hallamshire, beat New Zealander Temwa Chileshe in four at top string.
Second-placed Dunnington completed their fixtures with a surprise 16-8 defeat at Pontefract 2, meaning Harrogate and Doncaster, both on 196 points, sit 15 points off the runners up spot with one game left and will bid to outscore each other next week to claim the runner-up spot.
Dunnington's defeat was a see-saw affair in which the opening four salvos were shared. First, Ponte 2's Danny Siddall put the hosts ahead before Mike Hillary levelled with a five-game win over young Noah Riley.
Ahead went Ponte 2 again via American Ben Gemma in three games before Jamie Brown did likewise to pull the York side level again.
So it came down to the number ones and world number 167 Lwamba Chileshe sealed it for the hosts with an entertaining four-game victory over Pakistan's Amaad Fareed.
Harrogate fell to a surprise 19-6 defeat at Ferriby Hall, for whom stalwarts Fiona Moverley and Yusef Forster kicked off with straight-games triumphs.
Although Isaac Green clawed back a victory after a lengthy battle with Samuel Ince-Carvalhal at number three, Caleb Boy and Ben Smith applied the finishing touches for Ferriby at the top of the order.