Harrogate and District League

Harrogate Racquets have romped away with the First Division title in the, leaving Thirsk to battle for the runners-up spot.

With two matches remaining this season Racquets lead nearest rivals Thirsk by seven points, and the new champions are likely to finish the season unbeaten. Their final matches are against bottom of the table Ben Rhydding, already facing relegation.

Racquets have been skippered to success by Oliver Scaife, who has made eight appearances for the team so far.

Other regular men in the side have been John Hargreaves with 10 appearances; Jonathan Smail, eight and Richard Whiteley, four.

In the women's ranks Kate Needham has led the way with 10 appearances, Cath Varley has played on nine occasions, Gayle Audley, six and Gillian Smail, wife of Jonathan, has appeared on five occasions.

Racquets secured the championship again by defeating Knaresborough 6-2.

Scores: (Racquets names first) John Hargreaves and Cath Varlsey halved with Ashley Davis and Anne Albats 4-6, 6-4; beat Jamie Judd and Anne-Marie Bowler 6-3; beat Jack Vorce and Margaret Sykes 6-1.

Richard Whiteley and Gayle Audley beat Davis and Albats 6-1; beat Judd and Bowler 6-5, 6-1; beat Vorce and Sykes 6-3.

Oliver Scaife and Hazel Green beat Davis and Albats 6-1; lost to Judd and Bowler 5-7; lost to Vorce and Sykes 5-6, 5-6.

Earlier, Racquets had defeated Thirsk 6-3 away and Harlow 5-4 at home to maintain their unbeaten record.

Thirsk, who had seemed likely to take the runners-up spot, are now being challenged for second place. Birstwith have come up on the rails after taking a 5-4 win over Thirsk.

The sides are now level on 17 points, but Thirsk have a better rubbers' average.

In Division Three Spa, captained by Helen Worthington, have secured promotion and seem likely to go on and claim the championship.

In Division Five The Academy A team have confirmed their championship status, beating Thirsk 8-0.

And in Division Six newcomers Northallerton are also confirmed as champions in their initial season in the league. Their 6-3 win over Ripon underlined their supremacy in what was their 11th unbeaten match of the season.

Division One: Thirsk 3, Harrogate Racquets 6; Harrogate Racquets 5, Harlow 4; Ben Rhydding 0, Harlow 8; Birstwith 5, Thirsk 4; Harrogate Racquets 6, Knaresborough 2.

Division Two: Boroughbridge 5, Harlow B 1; Wetherby 2, Harrogate Racauets A 7; Starbeck 5, Thirsk A 3.

Division Three: Spa 8, Birstwith A 0; Knaresborough A 8, Masham 1; Harlow C 7, Birstwith A 1.

Division Three: Masham A 2, Ripon A 4; Bedale A 0, Wetherby A 9; Ripon A 5, Masham A 1; Masham 1, Raskelf 8; Dacre A 7, Wetherby A 1; Harlow D 7, Boroughbridge A 1.

Division Five: Starbeck A 2, Spa A 4; Thirsk B 0, Academy A 8; Dacre b 3, Harrogate Racquets C 5.

Division Six: Ripon B 4, Birstwith B 5; West Tanfield B 3, Harrogate Grammar School 3; Northallerton 6, Ripon B 3.

Barkston Ash League

Victory in their final match of the season will give Whitkirk the Division One title.

Champions Bardsey ended any lingering hopes of Horsforth winning the title, Bardsey taking a 59-4.

Whitkirk head the table with 46 points, having lost once. A win over third from bottom Barwick will wrap up the championship for the East Leeds team.

Division One: Bardsey 59, Horsforth 49; Sherburn 21, Whitkirk A 69; Whitkirk B 32, Barwick A 76; Barwick A 50, Whitkirk B 58.

Division Two: York All Saints 80, Cliffe 28; Barwick B 65, Alwoodley 43; Alwoodley 33, Thorner 75; Thorner 80, Castleford 28; Copmanthorpe 46, Roundhay 62; Cliffe 60, Copmanthorpe 48; Rondhay 44, Barwick B 64.

Division Three: Selby 41, Colingham B 67; Heworth 64, Horsforth B 44; Thorp Willoughby 60, Collingham B 48.

Men: South Leeds 28, Scholes 80; Thorner 61, Alwoodley B 47.

Women: Castleford 52, York All Saints 56.

Division One: Relegated: Boston Spa, Sherburn.

Division Two: Champions: York All Saints, Thorner are promoted.

Relegated: Copmanthorpe.

Division Three: Champions: Whitkirk C, Thorp Willoughby are promoted