First Division champions Bedale came an early cropper when they went down 3-0 to Wensleydale.

Bedale, who won the title for the first time last season, had been expected to ease past their Leyburn-based rivals.

But surprise wins for Wensleydale's Keith Parlour over Dave Smiley and an upset by Robert Dent in beating Dave Horner threw the form book out of the window.

Parlour, who says he has normally managed to beat Smiley in friendly clashes but has found the going much tougher in league matches, took his encounter 9-6 1-9 9-4 5-9 9-6.

The Dent victory was even closer as Horner eventually succumed 9-3 5-9 5-9 9-6 10-8.

Nick Brown completed the Wensleydale victory defeating Alan Peirson 9-3 10-8 9-4.

Bedale stay top in Division One with 26 points from two wins in three matches. Knaresborough (two wins in as many matches) are on 24 points with Wensleydale closing in with 23 points in third place. They have won two of their three encounters.

Knaresborough achieved a 3-0 away win at Pateley Bridge with the following scorelines:

(Knaresborough names first): James Lambley beat Steve Ball 9-3 7-9 9-3 9-6; Tim Russell beat Steve Terry 9-1 9-5 9-5; John Evans beat Chris Lennox 9-0 9-3 9-5.

Meanwhile Knaresborough II currently head Division Two following a 2-1 win over Catterick Garrison.

Gary Hatch and Peter Bottomley victories means Knaresborough have 32 points from three straight wins. Second placed Wensleydale, also unbeaten in three outings, have 29 points.

Jason Hughes again demonstrated his fitness by winning his rubber for the Army side.

Division One: Wensleydale 3 (Keith Parlour, Nick Brown, Robert Dent) Bedale 0; Pateley Bridge 0 Knaresborough 3 (James Lambley, Tim Russell, John Evans).

Division Two: Knaresborough II 2 (Gary Hatch, Peter Bottomley) Catterick Garrison 1 (Jason Hughes); Harlow II 1 (Peter Craddock) Wensleydale II 2 (Jim Forbes, Richard Phillips); Bedale III 2 (Mike Lumley, John Abbotson) Boroughbridge 1 (Stuart Rennison); Wensleydale III 1 (Mick Margeson) Thirsk II 2 (Derrick Jenkinson, Nigel Laws).

Division Three: Knaresborough III 1 (Phil Smelt) Harlow III 2 (Jim McGuinness, Dave Parker); Harrogate Squash IV 3 (Ian Simmons, Karen Leake, John Elsworth) Thirsk IV 0; Bedale IV 3 (Andrew Sedgwick, Andrea Offord, Geoff Coles); Thorp Perrow 0 Harrogate Squash V 3 (Adam Hughes, Ian Woodhead, Steve Smith).