Yorkshire Squash League: Barnsley's title defence gets off to perfect start

Only Phil Bowker, who edged out Nick Padgett 3-2 at fifth string, didn’t register a straight-games success as Chris Fuller spearheaded a superb opening to the 2016-17 season for the reigning champions by conceding just five points at No 2 against Andy Cockerill.

World No 43 Millie Tomlinson, a six-time winner on the PSA Tour in 2016, continued her excellent form by trouncing Paul Morton at fourth string, while there were also comfortable wins for Wales’ Joel Makin and Tom Bamford over Harry Falconer and Glyn Saunders respectively.

Pontefract also recorded a home clean sweep as they routed Abbeydale seconds 20-3, with Taminder Gata Aura, Neil Cordell and Lewis Doughty all triumphing 3-0 against Adam Turner, Phil Scully and James Biggin respectively.

Sam Watts, who was beaten 3-1 by Alex Hodgetts, and Mark Tasker, who went down 3-2 to Switzerland’s Nadia Pfister, secured Abbeydale’s consolation points.

It was a chastening night for the Sheffield club, since their first team also lost – 14-8 to Pontefract 2nds at home.

The visitors gained the five bonus points for victory via wins from Adam Taylor (3-2 against Oli Turner), Elliot Ridge (3-0 over Oscar Beach) and Ben Sockett (3-0 versus Tom Turner), Adam Murrills’ and Murray Scott’s straight-games drubbings of Sam Wileman and Matt Godson proving in vain.