Barnsley restore order at top of Yorkshire Premier table after crushing Pontefract

Pontefract had closed the gap on Barnsley to a mere six points last week, but the leaders marched 16 points clear thanks to a 20-1 home drubbing of their South Yorkshire rivals.

Only Mick Stead did not register a straight-games win, having to be satisfied with a 3/1 success against Stuart Hargreaves as South African Shaun le Roux, Joel Makin, Ashley Davies and Tom Bamford respectively trounced Alex Hodgetts, Lewis Doughty, Sam Wileman and Peter Lonsdale.

Pontefract’s reversal was so convincing that they slipped down to third place, nine points behind Dunnington, even though they have won five of their seven fixtures, whereas the defending champions have triumphed in four.

That fourth success came at Heaton this week, by a 17-4 margin, with Ed Shannon’s 3/0 loss to Phil Bowker their only defeat.

Otherwise, Gareth Lumsdon, Danny Hockborn and Matthew Stephenson claimed 3/0 wins over Stuart Macgregor, Isaac Rawcliffe and Jess Dixon, while Matt Marshall beat Mathew Powell 3/1.

Abbeydale are just one point behind Pontefract on 87 following their 15-8 loss at Chapel Allerton. The Leeds outfit owed their win to victories in the top three rubbers, with Joel Hinds and Declan Christie 3/0 winners over Matthew Broadberry and Nick Wall junior, while Dom Hamilton squeezed home 3/2 against Adam Turner.

Nick Wall Snr’s 3/0 success against Niall McKinnon and Oli Turner’s 3/1 victory over Phil Young ensured the Sheffield side stayed in touch with the front runners.

Queens are eight points adrift of Abbeydale after a convincing 15-6 defeat at lowly Hull and East Riding, who were guided home by their bottom three – Glyn Saunders, Yusef Forsters and Paul Norton. They all scored 3/0 wins – against Tory Temple-Murray, David Hymas and Ellis Ward.

James Earles and Matt Sidaway ensured the Halifax team came away with some reward from their trip to East Yorkshire thanks to 3/0 and 3/1 victories against Harry Falconer and Andy Cockerill.