Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League

Homeless Ripon are on their way back to Division One in the league following their 2-1 victory at Leyburn-based Wensleydale and a 3-0 success over Bedale. Relegated last season, Ripon bounced back to the top flight thanks to wins by John Bailey and Tony Rennison in the 2-1 win over Wensleydale. Harry Sargeant took the single rubber for Wensleydale III team. Meanwhile Ripon's 3-0 win over Bedale II came thanks to John Bailey, Tony Rennison and Neil Jackson, whose victories cemented the championship. Wensleydale II, Pateley Bridge and Thirsk are all battling for the second promotion spot. Ripon have been homeless for the past few seasons after their North Road courts closed for development. Since then they have had a nomadic existence playing their matches on rivals' courts.

Speculation that they might join up with Boroughbridge has come to nothing and it seems as if the Ripon side will continue under their own banner next season. In Division One Harrogate Squash Club are virtually home, if not dry, in the race for the title. Following a 3-0 walk-over against RAF Leeming, who are now bottom, the Harrogate side need just five points from their last match to retain the title for the second successive season. With RAF Leeming already relegated to Division Two there is a keen fight to avoid the second relegation spot between Knaresborough and Northallerton. Both sides are on 85 points but Northallerton are third from the foot of the table thanks to a better rubbers' average. Northallerton kept survival hopes alive by defeating Thorp Perrow 2-1.

Scores (Northallerton names first): Phil Shackleton lost to Keith Parour 9-2, 3-9, 3-9, 4-9; Peter Pinkney beat Mark Allison 9-3, 9-5, 9-1; Keith Johnson beat John Watson 9-7, 9-10, 9-0, 9-3.

Meanwhile Knaresborough's 2-1 win at Wensleydale stoked up a close battle to avoid the drop. Scores (Wensleydale names first): Paul O'Donnell lost to James Lambley 6-9, 3-9, 6-9; Gary Hynes lost to Tim Russell 6-9, 5-9, 3-9; Kevin Solly beat Gary Hatch 9-6, 9-7, 3-9, 10-8.

Division One: RAF Leeming 0 Harrogate Squash 3 (walk-over); Wensleydale 1 (Kevin Solly) Knaresborough 2 (Tim Russell, James Lambley); Northallerton 2 (Peter Pinkney, Keith Johnson) Thorp Perrow 1 (Keith Parlour); Harrogate Squash II 1 (John Alderson) Bedale 2 (Alan Peirson, Dave Horner); Harlow II 0 Harlow 3 (Warren Cunningham, Nigel Chambers, John Graham).

Division Two: Ripon 2 (John Bailey, Tony Rennison) Wensleydale III 1 (Harry Sargeant); Ripon 3 (John Bailey, Tony Rennison, Neil Jackson) Bedale II 0;

Thirsk 3 (Steve Whietley, Paul Goacher, Nigel Laws) Pateley Bridge 0; Knaresborough II 0 Wensleydale II 3 (Jim Forbes, Richard Phillips, John Scott); Thirsk II 0 Wensleydale III 3 (Robert Dent, Tony Warrington, Chris Taplin).

Division Three: Knaresborough III 1 (Ray Geary) Thirsk III 2 (John Frankland, Mark Fox); Thorp Perrow II 1 (Richard Meeres) Harlow III 2 (Martyn Hall, Peter Craddock); Squash IV 3 (Karen Leake, Ian Bexon, John Alderson); Bedale III 2 (Andrew Hawkswell, Mike Lumley) Wensleydale IV 1 (John Chilton); Harlow IV 3 (Jim McGuinness, Dave Parker, Stuart Anderson).

Harrogate and District League

Division One Scores: Moortown 3 (Robin Mannell, Phil Davies, Geoff Mortimer) Ilkley II 0; Ilkley 3 (Gareth Hutchinson, Andy Huthcinson, Phil Maunsell) Otley 0; Hrlow II 1 (Steve Ingram) Nomads 2 (Cameron McMaster, Jonathan Round); Harlow 2 (Nigel Chambers, Steve Smith) Harrogate Squash 1 (Adam Nowakowski); Collingham 1 (Paul Hill) Headingley 2 (Mark Ambler, Jon Hodgson).

P W L Pts

Moortown 16 14 2 173

Ilkley 16 12 4 152

Squash 15 12 3 147

Nomads 16 7 9 113

Headingley 15 7 8 107

Ilkley II 14 8 6 93

Harlow 16 7 9 92

Collingham 14 7 7 88

Harlow II 16 2 14 72

Otley 16 1 15 29

Division Two Scores: Pateley Bridge 3 (Ben Bolton, Chris Lennox, James Gaston) Harlow III 0; Knaresborough 3 (James Lambley, Gary Hatch, Adrian Forge) Moortown II 0; Collingham II 0 Collingham III 3 (Andy Shaw, Nick Johnson, Ed Dabrowski); Squash III 1 (Nicola Pratt) Squash IV 2 (Andy Winspeare, Jeff Brown).

Division Two

Squash II 14 14 0 159

Squash III 14 11 3 131

Squash IV 14 10 4 121

Collingham II 14 8 6 109

Knaresborough 15 8 7 100

Harlow III 14 4 10 81

Moortown II 14 2 12 58

Pateley Bridge 14 2 12 44

Division Three Scores: Otley II 3 (Paul Hickman, Mark Drury, John Stilwell) Moortown III 0; Boroughbridge 2 (Paul Hayhurst, Mark Cotton) Harlow IV 1 (Paul Fairhurst); Army Foundation College 0 Knaresborough II 3 (Phil Smelt, Martyn Gibson, John Goodwill); Harrogate V 2 (Ian Berrill, Paul Hatton) Ripon 1 (Neil Jackson).

Knaresborough II 14 11 3 139

Harlow IV 14 12 2 136

Boroughbridge 14 9 5 118

Otley II 15 8 7 113

Ripon 14 7 7 106

Squash V 14 6 8 92

Moortown III 14 6 8 88

Moortown IV 14 3 11 64

Army College 13 1 12 2