A first ever Yorkshire Premier League trophy is within touching distance for Doncaster after they recorded yet another emphatic victory on Wednesday night while nearest rivals Pontefract 1 slipped to an untimely defeat.

Doncaster thumped mid-table Abbeydale 20-1 to open up a 21-point gap at the summit of the table with only two fixtures remaining. Second-placed Pontefract 1 were missing several key personnel as they went down 14-9 at Harrogate to leave themselves a mountain to climb. Third-placed Hallamshire's title defence is officially over after they lost 19-5 at Ferriby Hall - a result which also has ramifications in the relegation battle.

But we start at the top, where Doncaster's rout was ignited by world No.69 Asia Harris' lengthy four-game win over Dan Choudry and world No.56 Millie Tomlinson's rout of Ryan Spencer.

It was over in the blink of an eye thereafter as Doncaster's top three hit the 'beast mode' button. Lewis Doughty, Toby Ponting and captain Joel Arscott all won in straight games to seal a massive victory in Donny's title charge.

It was a different story for Pontefract 1 who, due to many absentees, handed a debut to new club member Shaurya Arun away at mid-table Harrogate. Arun went down bravely in four against Thomas Simpson, then highly rated junior George Barker also fell in four to John Simpson.

There was hope for Ponte, however, when Ben Beachill and skipper Matt Godson both won in straight games. That meant the result all came down to the top string clash in which Adam Taylor took on the intimidating force of New Zealander Lwamba Chileshe. After getting only a point in the first game, Taylor battled back well to take the second, before losing the third and fourth 11/9.

Hallamshire had been very much on the fringes of the championship reckoning, but Wednesday's 19-5 defeat at Ferriby Hall ended all hope of defending their title - and gave the hosts a gigantic relegation boost.

Glyn Saunders and Yusef Forster both won in straight games at the beginning of the evening then Ben Sockett won a tremendous battle with veteran Nick Wall Snr at No.3 to seal Ferriby's victory. South Africa's Diewald van Niekirk blitzed Adam Turner before Hallamshire belatedly got a W on the board at top string where Temwa Chileshe won a corker with Ben Smith 13/11 in the fifth.

That 19-5 victory lifted Ferriby Hall a healthy 26 points ahead of bottom placed Woodfield who lost 16-7 at home to fifth-placed Dunnington. It was all over early doors for Woodfield hosts when Sam Gibbon, Luke McFarland and Seif Heikal won for Dunnington's lower order. Woodfield's all-star top two - England internationals George Parker and Declan James - reduced the margin of defeat though. James' battle with Chris Simpson at No.1 went to the wire with the Commonwealth Games gold medallist taking it 11/7 in the fifth.

Pontefract 2 are just 10 points above Woodfield and remain in danger of falling below the dotted line in the last two weeks of the season. They lost 15-7 at home to 2022 champions Queens this week - and face stablemates Pontefract 1 next week in what will be an intriguing affair.

Momentum swung both ways during the night as James Wilkinson and Connor Sheen won for Pontefract 2 but Stephen Hearst and James Earles replied for Queens. It all came down to what looked a banker for Queens' young prodigy Finnlay Withington at No.1 against Ben Hetherington. Ponte's Cumbrian star put up stiff resistance though, but expended all his energy taking the third game and was bagelled in the deciding fourth.