Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League: Champions Harrogate Squash are in danger of being de-throned after losing a key end-of-season clash against nearest rivals Bedale.

But despite Bedale's 2-1 victory in Division One, Harrogate remain top with 170 points. They have 15 wins from 17 matches.

Bedale narrowed the gap and, with a vital match in hand, are on 163 points with 13 wins from 16 fixtures.

Bedale wrap up their season with matches against Northallerton and Harlow, while Harrogate face Wensleydale.

Bedale need 20 points from their last matches to be certain of taking the title. A total of 24 points are up for grabs in the final showdown.

The situation is still too close to call but Bedale's victory has moved the initiative slightly away from the holders.

Harrogate suffered a setback before a ball had been struck in the vital match. Simon (Zippy) Myring was unable to play because of a rearranged Yorkshire League match and the team was also without Dave Townsend and Mark Harding, both unavailable.

Harrogate brought Martin Wickenden in at first string but he went down 9-6, 9-4, 9-6 to Phil Martin.

Wickenden had won an earlier clash 3-1 and the pair are seeded to meet in the North Yorkshire Invididual Championship final on Wednesday (April 2) at Leyburn (7.45pm).

Alan Peirson captured the second Bedale victory beating Colin Wilding 4-9, 9-5, 9-6, 9-2.

Bedale's only reverse came when Dave Smiley lost to Paul Hotchkiss 8-10, 8-10, 2-9.

In Division Three Boroughbridge and Harrogate Squash III are both promoted. But the championship issue has still to be resolved despite leaders Boroughbridge beating the Harrogate side 2-1.

Scores - Harrogate Squash III 1 Boroughbridge 2 (Harrogate names first): Adam Hughes lost to Simon Robinson 8-9, 4-9, 0-9; Ian Woodhead beat Stuart Rennison 10-8, 7-9, 4-9, 9-3, 9-3; Bruce Ramsey lost to Joe Royle 9-7, 9-7, 5-9, 8-10, 5-9.

Division One: Bedale 2 (Phil Martin, Alan Peirson) Harrogate Squash 1 (Paul Hotchkiss); Northallerton 2 (Keith Johnson, Peter Pinkney) Harlow 1 (Nigel Chambers); Harrogate Squash II 1 (Nicola Pratt) Otley 2 (John Bailey, Steve Thackwray); Bedale II 3 (Dave Horner, Dave Wheatley, Mark Allison) Wensleyday II 0.

Division Two: Pateley Bridge 3 Thirsk II 0, walk-over; RAF Leeming 3 (Steve Grant, Phil Hopkins, Andy Huggett) Thorpe Perrow 0; Wensleydale III 1 (Iain Garth) Knaresborough II 2 (Gary Hatch, Adrian Forge); Harlow II 2 (Dan Lupton, Dave Allenby) Bedale IV 1 (Andrew Hawkswell).

Division Three: Thirsk III 1 (Mark Fox) Wensleydale IV 2 (John Chilton, Chris Taplin); Harrogate Squash III 1 (Ian Woodhead) Boroughbridge 2 (Simon Robinson, Joe Royle); Knaresborough II 2 (Phil Strong, Phil Smelt) Harrogate Squash V 1 (Jamie Bartle); Pateley Bridge II 2 (Dave Mann, Andy Balsden) Harlow III 1 (John Lovell); Catterick Garrison 3 (Jason Hughes, Joe Rawthorne, Brian Atherton) Harrogate Squash IV 0.

l On Thursday (April 3) the North Yorshire team plate championship finals are being held at Knaresborough (7.30pm) and on Friday (April 4) Bedale will host the team championship finals and league presentatons (7.30pm).

Kall Kwik Harrogate and District League: Teams finishing level on points in the battle for the Division One title will face a play-off rather than a count back on rubbers.

A league official revealed the Division One ruling as championship challengers Ilkley and Adel are currently level on 190 points.

Ilkley have taken second place because they have lost fewer matches than third placed Adel.

Harrogate Squash are top on 196 points. The three leading sides have all played 20 matches.

Normally sides ending level on points would be separated by a detailed count back of rubbers.

But a league spokesman said the play-off ruling would only apply in Division One. Other divisions would face the count back ruling.

Meanwhile, title favourites Harrogate, now six points ahead of Ilkley and Adel, were gifted 12 points by Collingham, who failed to raise a side because of injuries for their scheduled clash against the league leaders. Disappointment was expressed that, at this pivotal stage of the season, the match will not be replayed and that the title favourites had not had to take to the courts for their 12 points.

But a league spokesman pointed out that Collingham did have injury problems and did not have a particularly big squad to call on.

The league spokesman said the match would not be ordered to be replayed. "We are unable to do that even though it is a pivotal match as far as the First Division championship is concerned," said the official.

Harrogate remain favourites because they are expected to field top players in the final matches of the season in a major push for the title.

Ilkley suffered a setback to their title hopes when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Moortown, but Adel picked up the full quota of 12 points in beating Harlow 3-0 away.

Division One: Ilkley 1 (Phil Maunsell) Moortown 2 (Robin Mannell, Phil Davis); Collingham 0 Harrogate Squash 3 (walk-over); Harlow 0 Adel 3 (Mark Ambler, Steve Glynn, Jon Hodgson); Harrogate Squash II 3 (Simon Myring, Bob Peacock, Nigel Heward) Collingham II 0; Chapel Allerton 2 (Mark Pinkerton, Peter Little) Nomads 1 (Richard Leonard); Otley 1 (Steve Thackwray) Scott Hall 2 (Ian Cawthorne, Mark Sellers).

Positions in Division One: Harrogate Squash played 20, won 17, lost 3, 196 points; Ilkley played 20, won 16, lost four, 190 points; Adel played 20 won 15, lost 5, 190 points.

Division Two: Harrogate Squash IV 2 (Adam Hughes, Paul Duncalf) Ilkley III 1 (Jonathan Pownall); Boroughbridge 2 (Simon Robinson, Stuart Rennison) Knaresborough II 1 (Andy McMillan); Knaresborough 3 (James Lambley, John Evans, Gary Hatch) Harlow III 0; Moortown II 0 Ilkley II 3 (Jonty Hawkes, Matt Dueidonne, Roger Goodwin-Jones): Knaresborough III 3 (Steve Whiteley, Steve Terry, Steve Williams) Collingham III 0.

Division Three: Moortown III 2 (Phil Maher, Mark Westmancoat) Ripon 1 (Neil Jackson); Collingham IV 2 (Toby Morton, Ed Dabrowski) Harrogate V 1 (Ian Bexon); Bedale III 3 (Alan Peirson, Andy Hawkswell, Mike Lumley) Otley II 0; Harlow IV 3 (Dan Lupton, Sophie Jacob, Paul Fairhurst); Boroughbridge II 2 (Colin Leftly, Phil Strong) Moortown IV 1 (Steve Holroyd).