The Ellis factor helped to further stoke Harlow's challenge for the title in Division One.

Harlow's No1 Tom Ellis led the side to their latest victory - by 3-0 at Nomads - closing the gap on leaders Chapel Allerton, now down to four points.

Just a couple of weeks ago Harlow were in fifth place.

Ellis's regular winning appearances for his team has meant that Steve Smith is a hard rival to beat at second string, a fact underlined by the latet results.

Ellis routed John Riley 9-2 9-1 9-0 while Smith beat Joe Wilson 9-3 9-10 9-2 9-6. Nigel Chambers assured a hat-trick of wins for the Harrogate side when he hit back to defeat Jonathan Round 4-9 9-5 8-10 10-8 9-0.

Chapel Allerton and Harlow have both won seven of their nine matches.

Their nearest rivals Adel, who have experienced mixed fortunes in the first half of the season, are six points adrift of Harlow.

Meanwhile Chapel Allerton took 12 points from their 3-0 home win against Collingham. Chapel's Yorkshire League stalwart Ian Cawthorne again showed his pedigree by defeating Paul Hill 9-4 9-0 9-7. Mike Dickens beat Anthony Kettlewell 9-2 9-0 4-9 9-3 with Mike Lawton dispatching Charlie Wardroper 10-8 9-0 9-1.

Latest results brought double success for two father and son combinations.

Father Tony Nowakowski and son Adam both chalked up victories for Harrogate Squash as they beat Ilkley 2-1 away.

And in Division Three father and son Stephen and Andrew Widdison were both winners, giving Collingham IV a 2-1 home win over Moortown III.

Division One: Harrogate Squash II 2 (Simon Myring, Tim Russell) Chapel Allerton II 1 (Scott Wilson); Ilkley 1 (Phil Maunsell) Harrogate Squash 2 (Tony Nowakowski, Adam Nowakowski); Nomads 0 Harlow 3 (Tom Ellis, Steve Smith, Nigel Chambers); Chapel Allerton 3 (Ian Cawthorne, Anthony Kettlwell, Mike Lawton) Coll. 0; Adel 2 (Mark Ambler, John Ploughman) Ilkley II 1 (Tom Songhurst); Knaresborough 0 Moortown 3 (Mark Pinkerton, David Lines, Geoff Mortimer).

Division Two: Harlow II 3 (Neil Chambers, John Graham, Roger Calvert) Harlow III 0; Boroughbridge 0 Harrogate IV 3 (Adam Hughes, Paul Woodhead, Paul Duncalf); Harrogate Squash III 0 Otley 3 (Matt Wood, Chris Lawton, Steve Thackwray); Bedale 0 Knaresborough II 3 (Adrian Forge, Peter Bottomley, Graham Kilvington); Ilkley III 3 (Neal Cowan, Martin Chapman, Tony Atkins) Moortown II 0