There were victories for defending champions Queens and top-flight newcomers Harrogate as the new Yorkshire Premier League season began on Wednesday night. 

Queens, who won last year’s title by a ludicrous 81-point margin with just one loss in 18 matches, flexed their muscles on the opening night of the new campaign with a 17-6 home victory over Hallamshire. 

Ollie Turner had put three points on the board for Hallamshire at fifth string after a five-setter, but Queens’ incredibly strong middle order of England coach Josh Taylor and James Earles (unbeaten all last season) posted straight-games wins.

The visitors from Sheffield boasted the considerable presence of three-time world champion Nick Matthew in their line-up and the 42-year-old took out Wales' Emyr Evans in four at top string.

That set up a second-string decider between Finnlay Withington and Adam Turner which the highly promising Queens youngster won in straight games to sew up the five bonus points. 

Over the summer, Withington finished runner-up in the World Junior Championships in Nantes and was part of the England team that won the World Junior Team Championships with a shock victory over Egypt in the final. 

Harrogate, who replaced relegated Hull & East Riding in the top tier, were boosted by the double signing of brothers Lwamba and Temwa Chileshe, who were part of the New Zealand squad at last summer’s Commonwealth Games. Both won in brisk fashion, against Chapel Allerton’s top two Owain Taylor and Richard Hinds respectively. 

That polished off a dominant 19-3 win for the hosts after Josh Rowley and Declan Christie (facing his former club) had taken care of Chapel’s Cameron Ward and Isaac Green. Ross Williamson did get a win for the visitors early on with a gruelling five-setter against Alec Fuller. 

The Pontefract derby was a closer affair, with scores to settle after the 2nds finished above their stablemates in the first team last season thanks to a storming end to the season. 

Sam Todd (who became the first player in history to win all four boys' British Junior Open age group titles over the summer) has switched from Ponte’s seconds to the firsts this season, and that ultimately proved crucial on Wednesday night. 

Ben Hodgetts and James Wilkinson got the first team off to a strong start with four-game victories over Ben Beachill and Billy Hawes respectively, only for the seconds to roar back to parity through captain Matt Godson’s marathon win and Carlton Oldham justifying his promotion up the order to number two by taking out Tom Bamford. 

Todd showed no mercy against his old team in the deciding rubber, however, by dispatching club champion Adam Taylor ruthlessly in three games to seal a 16-8 team win. 

Abbeydale, who finished third last season, pipped Doncaster in a tight South Yorkshire derby which went to the wire.  

Firstly, Josh Payne just overcame England junior Asia Harris in five while fifth string Sam Watts won in three. But back came Donny with quick wins for Lewis Doughty and Kiwi Joel Arscott. 

It seemed as though Welshman Elliott Morris Devred was on course to tie up the five bonus points quickly for Abbeydale, but Simon Herbert fought back from two games down to tee up a decider. Devred got his breath back though to win it 11/2. 

The opening night’s other tie saw Dunnington beat Woodfield 15-7. The late withdrawal of England’s Commonwealth Games doubles gold medal winner Declan James due to a virus undoubtedly affected the visitors from Doncaster. 

Although Ray Nevin got Woodfield off to a winning start, Dunnington’s new signing Taminder Gata Aura, Luke McFarland and Seif Heikal all won thereafter to seal the win. Ben Smith’s 3-0 win over the hosts’ top string Michael Andrews was a mere consolation.