Third from bottom Thirsk pulled off a shock win over league leaders Harrogate Squash II in Division One of the Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire Squash League.

Two of the three clashes went to five games, the third to four as Thirsk took a 2-1 win.

Afterwards Thirsk's stand in skipper Steve Whiteley said: "I think every player realised the meaning of pain in this match."

Match scores Thirsk 2 Harrogate Squash II 1 (Thirsk names first): Steve Whiteley beat Bob Peacock 4-9 2-9 9-6 9-2 9-4; Steve Snodgrass beat Dave Dodwell 9-6 9-5 8-10 1-9 9-4; Steve Lacey lost to Stewart McDonald 3-9 9-6 9-10 2-9.

Squash II stay top despite their second setback of the season, leading with 82 points ahead of nearest rivals Bedale on 78.

Pateley Bridge won the battle of the bottom two in Division One, beating Northallerton 2-1. Victory failed to lift Pateley off the bottom, but they are now only four points behind Northallerton. Wins by Steve Ball and Chris Lennox upset the Northallerton applecart with Tricia Kochaniec Northallerton's lone winner.

Bedale moved into second spot with their 2-1 home win against Harlow. Dave Smiley beat Steve Thackray 4-9 9-6 5-9 9-3 9-7 while Alan Peirson beat Rob Cunningham 9-2 9-4 9-7. Bedale's defeat came at first string when Phil Martin went down 4-9 6-9 7-9 to in-form Tom Ellis.

Division One: Thirsk 2 (Steve Whiteley, Steve Snodgrass) Harrogate Squash II 1 (Stewart McDonald); Pateley Bridge 2 (Steve Ball, Chris Lennox) Northallerton 1 (Tricia Kochaniec); Bedale 2 (Dave Smiley, Alan Peirson) Harlow 1 (Tom Ellis).

Division Two: Wensleydale II 1 (Iain Garth) Boroughbridge 2 (Joe Royle, Nigel Wick); Wensleydale III 2 (Dave Booth, Mike Margeson) Harlow II 1 (Martyn Hall); Harrogate Squash III 3 (Adam Hughes, Ian Woodhead, Paul Woodhead) Bedale II 0; Bedale III 0 Knaresborough II 3 (Gary Hatch, Martyn Gibson, Peter Bottomley); Catterick Garrison 2 (Ryan Barton, Peter Luard) Thirsk 1 (Jon Harrison).

Division Three: Harlow III 3 (Dave Parker, Jim McGuinness, Rick Elliott) Thirsk IV 0; Thirsk III 1 (Mike Pointon) Harrogate Squash V 2 (Jamie Bartle, Christine Downing); Harrogate Squash IV 2 (Duncan Hill, Ian Simmons) Thorpe Perrow 1 (John Skinner); Pateley Bridge II 2 (Dave Mann, Bill Hannay) Knaresborough III 1 (Ray Geary).