Queens go third but Doncaster take big step towards first title
Queens moved into third place in the Yorkshire Premier squash league but are still 23 points adrift of leaders Doncaster.
The Halifax side thumped Abbeydale 20-3, despite fielding a slightly weakened side.
Number one James Earles, Bader Almaghrebi and Danny Bray all won in straight games, Northern Irishman Stephen Hearst dropped a single game at second string and club head coach Sarah Campion was stretched into a fifth by Matthew Barton.
Doncaster took a big step towards their first ever title by winning a thrilling top-ofthe-table clash with Pontefract 1 on Valentine's Day.
The home side's 15-7 victory established an 11-point advantage at the summit for the South Yorkshire side with four rounds to go - and ended Ponte 1's run of eight straight victories in the competition.
Unusually, the number ones were first on court and Ponte drew first blood. Egyptian Omar El Torkey recovered from losing the first game against Will Salter to hit back in four, showing his recent ankle problems are behind him. On the adjacent court, Pontefract's number five Ben Beachill demolished Ted McQueen to double the away side's lead.
However, Doncaster's middle order launched a vital fightback. Will Donnelly's clash with Ponte captain Matt Godson at fourth string was to prove pivotal.
It was a monster foursetter, with the latter three games all going to tie-breaks.
Despite leads in the third and fourth, Ponte skipper Godson couldn't close out what would have been the match-clinching victory. Donnelly, and Doncaster, survived in a bruising 11/4 11/13 12/10 14/12.
Donny's second and third strings Joel Arscott and Lewis Doughty scented blood and both won in straight games to complete the turnaround and give their side a big title advantage.
Hallamshire just about kept their titles hopes alive in a mathematical sense with a 14-6 victory at relegationthreatened Pontefract 2.
Nick Wall Jnr, the world number 31, saw off Rhys Evans. Wall's father, Nick Wall Snr, also won in straight games at number four and
Nick Hargreaves's early victory at fifth string over veteran John Riley pocketed the five bonus points. Ponte’s consolation wins came from Chester Dockray and Mason Smales.