Title contenders cut gap but given big test by Pontefract’s second team
Pontefract 1 had their lead cut at the head of squash’s Yorkshire Premier League when the club’s second team could not quite do them a big enough favour against Doncaster.
With the leaders not in action Doncaster took the opportunity to close the gap to eight points at the top of the table when they beat Pontefract 2 by a 16-8 margin – although they have now played a game more.
The South Yorkshire side, seeking to recapture the title they won in 2023/24, found themselves in arrears early on at home to a Pontefract 2 side aiming to avoid the bottom of the table position.
Young Noah Riley won an epic tussle with Ed Walker in five and Connor Sheen overcame Doncaster’s Pontefract-born world no.87 Asia Harris in three tight games to give Ponte's second team a real chance of an upset.
However, Doncaster's top order hit back, with Indian Abhinav Gupta ousting USA's Ben Gemma in five, Aussie David Turner toppling teenager Chester Dockray and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Declan James defeating Kiwi Lwamba Chileshe to complete the turnaround.
Dunnington's hopes of challenging for the title receded with a 19-5 defeat at fifth-placed Harrogate, leaving the York club 27 points off the pace.
Queens of Halifax whitewashed bottom side Cleethorpes 20-0 and have now won four of their last five matches to climb to fourth.
Hallamshire are just four points above the dreaded dotted line after their sixth defeat in their last seven, the latest at home to mid-table Ferriby Hall.