Hallamshire can put the champagne on ice after this week's victory over Pontefract 2 as they take a commanding lead into the final two games of the Yorkshire Premier League season. 

The Sheffield club have now won eight matches in a row – and if they make that nine at home to Doncaster next week it could confirm them as 2022/23 winners, depending on how second-placed Dunnington fare at Harrogate. 

Hallamshire established a 19-point lead at the top courtesy of this week’s 14-8 victory over Pontefract 2, although the evening actually started with defeats in the opening two matches. 

Ponte’s Ben Beachill, son of former world No.1 Lee, thrashed Ollie Turner at fifth string, while Commonwealth Games silver medallist Hollie Naughton made short work of Nick Wall Snr. 

But Hallamshire’s No.3 Matt Gregory averted disaster with a crucial, hour-long five-game victory over Ponte’s Matt Godson, which turned the tide on the hosts’ favour. 

Adam Turner then claimed his 14th win in 16 YPL games this season to level the match and three-time world champion Nick Matthew sealed the comeback and five bonus points by toppling Adam Taylor in three. 

Hallamshire’s euphoria will have been doubled by news of nearest rivals Dunnington’s 17-7 defeat at third-placed Doncaster, who have now won six on the bounce. 

In a see-saw affair, Dunnington’s Matthew Stephenson posted a very tight four-game win over England junior Asia Harris, only for Luke McFarland to level up for Doncaster. 

Kiwi Joel Arscott put Doncaster ahead with a straight-game victory at No.2 string, but Kuwaiti Seif Heikal’s epic five-setter against Toby Ponting meant the match was poised at 2-2 heading into the top-string decider. 

Unfortunately for Dunnington, the hosts had drafted in none other than Scottish No.1 Greg Lobban, and he conquered Chris Simpson, despite dropping the second game. 

The victory brought third-placed Doncaster to within four points of Dunnington but they both seem destined to be scrapping it out for the runners-up spot barring a Devon Loch-style last-fence collapse by Hallamshire. 

At the other end of the table, Chapel Allerton are now certain to finish bottom after their 15-8 loss at last season’s champions Queens. 

An early win for Rahul Bansal proved a false down as Danny Bray, Bader Almaghrebi and Josh Taylor all posted W’s for the hosts to seal the points, meaning Owain Taylor’s win at No.1 over James Earles was academic. 

The night’s other two matches were mid-table skirmishes. Fifth-placed Abbeydale overpowered Woodfield 19-3 in quick fashion thanks to straight-games wins for Elliot Morris Devred, Jordan Hardwick, James Blythe and Ryan Spencer. 

Pontefract 1’s three winners all recorded quick victories too, namely world No.20 Patrick Rooney, Ben Hetherington and James Wilkinson. Dominic Bayley and Temwa Chileshe responded for Harrogate but could not prevent a 15-6 defeat.