Queens stretched their lead atop the Yorkshire Premier League to 48 points as they returned after the Christmas break with a victory and all three of their closest title rivals were beaten. 

As the Halifax club cantered to a 19-6 triumph at Pontefract 2, second-placed Hallamshire lost to bottom side Hull & East Riding, defending champions Abbeydale crashed at Dunnington and Chapel Allerton’s title hopes faded further as they went down at Woodfield. 

If the rest of the YPL were hoping for a shift in the title momentum as action resumed after a lengthy winter break, they were very much disappointed. Queens’ fifth string Danny Bray did lose the night’s opening duel against Ponte 2’s Billy Hawes, but it was plain sailing from then on for the runaway leaders. 

Queens’ James Earles defeated women’s world no.16 Hollie Naughton (who had only recently recovered from Covid) in four, England performance coach Josh Taylor also took four games to see off Tom Bamford, England’s top junior Finn Withington cruised through in straight games and Kiwi Lwamba Chileshe conquered Adam Taylor in the no.1s’ clash. Ponte 2 landed a few punches but were left to rue the absence of their protégé Sam Todd. 

Hallamshire could also point to big-name absences in Nick Matthew and Greg Lobban to excuse their shock 17-7 defeat at lowly Hull. Brilliant 17-year-old Asia Harris and Warwick-born Harry Falconer picked up victories for the visitors from Sheffield, but Hull’s Glyn Saunders won his second straight YPL game (having lost the previous 10), Mike Reid downed Aussie Donna Lobban and no.1 Ben Smith beat Nick Wall Jnr in straight games, although the first and third went to tie-breaks. 

Abbeydale visited York where fifth-placed Dunnington’s lower order did the business to seal a 15-8 win which put another nail in the visitors’ hopes of defending their title. 

Matthew Stephenson and Cai Younger both won in rapid style while Ed Shannon was extended to five games by YPL debutant Joshua Payne. 

Abbeydale’s top two took the sting out of losing margin as no.2 Adam Turner beat Luke McFarland in three and Adam Auckland toppled former world no.20 Chris Simpson 3/1. 

Leeds club Chapel Allerton started well enough at Woodfield with captain Paul Allen winning briskly at no.5 but the hosts dominated thereafter. After eight straight defeats this season, Alec Tomlinson finally posted a ‘W’ as he beat Isaac Green in an epic five-setter. 

Later on, Luke Parker overcame Richard Hinds in four, Simon Herbert defeated Connor Sheen and at top string England international Declan James conquered Welshman Owain Taylor 3/1. 

Mid-table Pontefract 1 are having an inconsistent season but took care of second-bottom Doncaster to the tune of 16-8 in a see-saw fixture. 

Ponte’s veteran John Riley and James Wilkinson got the visitors off to a flyer, but back roared Donny through Nick Ratnarajah, who hit back from 2/1 down to win in five, and New Zealander Joel Arscott. Ponte’s star man Patrick Rooney, who has now risen to world no.28, sealed the visitors’ victory with a very tight four-game win.