Yorkshire Women's League: Newly-promoted Harlow are continuing to make their mark in Division One.

The side chalked up its second win of the season, beating Bradford side Heaton 7-2.

Harlow finished top in Division Two last season with just two defeats.

This term they have already beaten Ilkley, one of the league's big guns by 5-4. Their only defeat so far came against Chapel Allerton, also by a 5-4 margin.

If Harlow maintain their present form suggestions from some of their rivals that they may face an instant return to Division Two will be wide of the mark.

A highlight of Harlow's latest win was the performance at third string of Pauline Knight and Rosemary Carter. The pairing won all three rubbers without dropping a set.

Match scores - Harlow 7 Heaton 2 (Harlow names first): S Jacob and C Varley halved with V Hudson and S Hamilton 1-6, 6-4; beat R Galley and S Pearson 6-2, 6-2; beat K Smith and D Townson 6-2, 6-4.

G Wright and J Bradley halved with Hudson and Hamilton 6-4, 5-7; halved with Galley and Pearson 6-4, 3-6; halved with Smith and Townson 5-7, 6-3.

P Knight and R Carter beat Hudson and Hamilton 6-4, 6-4; beat Galley and Pearson 6-1, 6-2; beat Smith and Townson 6-1, 6-0.

Slazenger Harrogate and District League

Two sides have already had points docked for failing to fulfil scheduled fixtures.

The tough rule introduced three seasons ago is being strictly fllowed unless clubs can produce extraordinary circumstances for matches being called off.

In the past some clubs have not even put forward reasons for not playing their matches.

Spa, who made a good start to the season in Division One, have had two points deducted. They are now second from bottom, just one point ahead of Bedale.

Ripon C in Division Six have also had two points deducted, leaving them in mid-table.

In Division One The Academy's 5.5-3.5 home win over Spa kept alive hopes of the title. They are now four points behind leaders Thirsk.

The Academy side included sisters Rebecca Sowden, the 18-year-old newly-crowned Harrogate and District champion and younger sister Alexa Sowden.

Match scores - The Academy 5.5 Spa 3.5 (Academy names first): Richard Whiteley and Rebecca Sowden halved with Chris Dight and Nicola Pratt 3-6 6-3; beat Rob Dearing and Joy Sammel 6-3; beat Carel Du Toit and Janet Harrison 6-4, 6-1.

Ross Leventhal and Julie Abbott lost to Dight and Pratt 3-6, 2-6; halved with Dearing and Sammel 2-6, 6-2; beat Du Toit and Harrison 7-5.

Chris Sorby and Alexa Sowden lost to Dight and Pratt 3-6; beat Dearing and Sammel 6-5, 6-3; halved with Du Toit and Harrison 6-5, 3-6.

Harlow A have a three point lead at the top of Division Two over Dacre, but suffered a crushing 8.5-0.5 defeat by third placed Academy A.

Gaining ground on the leaders were Dacre who defeated mid-table Ben Rhydding 5.5-3.5, Ben Rhydding aiding their own downfall by arriving with only four players.

Dacre are bidding for a return to the top flight and have a match in hand on the leaders.

Two husband and wife pairings appeared in the clash of the the dales.

Representing Nidderdale's Dacre side were Paul Ellison and Freda Ellison. While their Wharfedale rivals were aided by Mark Hagel and Cheryl Hagel.

Match scores - Dacre 5.5 Ben Rhydding 3.5 (Dacre names first): Paul Ellison and Christine Slinger beat Mark Hagel and Morag Wilkinson 6-5, 6-2; beat Ian Brunton and Cheryl Hagel 6-1, one walk-over.

Robert Harper and Freda Ellison lost to M. Hagel and Wilkinson 4-6, 2-6; halved with Brunton and C Hagel 3-6, 6-3; one walk-over.

Norman Shepherd and Linda Jarratt lost to M. Hagel and Wilkinson 1-6; lost to Brunton and C Hagel 2-6, 4-6; one walk-over.

Ripon lead the way in Division Three by a single point against Starbeck. Ripon stormed home 8-1 against rock bottom Harlow C, who have yet to win this season.

Meanwhile Starbeck were surprisingly held by Harlow C 4.5-4.5. The draw meant Harlow captured their first point of the season.

Only two sides now remain without a point, Spa B and West Tanfield B who occupy the bottom places in Division Six.

Division One: The Academy 5.5 Spa 3.5.

Division Two: Ben Rhydding 7 Raskelf 2; Dacre 5.5 Ben Rhydding 3.5; Dacre 5.5 Ben Rhydding 3.5; The Academy A 8.5 Harlow A 0.5.

Division Four: Northallerton A 4 Knaresborough A 5; Borougbridge A 8.5 Harlow D 0.5; Dacre A 4 Wetherby A 5; Ripon A 5 Harrogate Racquets C 4.

Division Five: Bedale A 6.5 West Tanfield A 2.5; Masham A 2.5 Thirsk B 6.5; Ripon B 7.5 Wetherby B 1.5.

Division Six: Burton Leonard 6.5 Bedale B 2.5; Birstwith A 3 Starbeck A 6; Harrogate Racquets D 6.5 West Tanfield B 2.5; Northallerton B 7.5 Ripon C 1.5; Knaresborough B 4.5 Burton Leonard 4.5; Thirsk C 8 Spa B 1.