Yorkshire League: Pontefract increase pressure on leaders Barnsley

Fourteen points clear going into their fixture at Hallamshire, Barnsley saw the gap shrink alarmingly as they suffered a 14-10 loss while Pontefract were trouncing Chapel Allerton 18-6 at home.

Although Alex Hodgetts lost to veteran former world no.3 Simon Parke at first string in Pontefract, victories from Lewis Doughty, Taminder Gata Aura, Adam Taylor and Sam Wileman over Dom Hamilton, Niall McKinnon, Ian Chappell and Ross Williamson clinched the bonus points for the home side.

Meanwhile, Barnsley were mounting a fierce challenge in Sheffield, with South African Shaun le Roux and Oli Harris scoring straight-games wins over Chris Fuller and Dan Lawrence.

However, with Mark Fuller bridging a 60-place world ranking gap by beating Richie Fallows 3/2, Alex Cutts also pipping Tom Bamford in five and Jack Alcock beating Millie Tomlinson 3/0, Hallamshire sealed the victory.

The Sheffield club, who have played one fixture less than the four clubs above them, are now handily placed on 75 points.

Defending champions Dunnington moved into third place on 80 points thanks to a thumping 19-4 home triumph against Hull and East Riding.

Yusef Forster’s 3/2 win over Ed Shannon was a mere consolation as Gareth Lumsdon, Danny Hockborn, Matt Marshall and Matthew Stephenson stormed home against Harry Falconer, Andy Cockerill, Fi Moverley and Iain Taylor.

A point behind Dunnington are Abbeydale, who – inspired by the three Walls – registered the first 20-0 result of the Premier League season at home to Heaton.

Peter Bilson and Oli Turner were joined by Nick Wall junior and senior and Charlie in condemning the Bradford outfit to the bottom of the table with 3/0 wins over Stuart Macgregor, Phil Bowker, Isaac Rawcliffe, Matthew Powell and Jess Dixon.

Pontefract seconds climbed off the bottom despite losing 16-6 at Queens, who were guided home by James Earles, Matt Sidaway and England assistant national coach David Campion. The visitors’ points came via wins from British under-13 champion Sam Todd and Ben Sockett.