SUMMER muscle-power has steered IT Sports Wigginton towards a winter of content and a likely championship conquest next spring.

The club took a considerable step towards the Yorkshire Squash League premier division title when they downed city rivals York Next Generation 5-0 (20-4).

The Wigginton wonders have now won all their eight matches to date, many by emphatic hauls, and only Pontefract appear capable of preventing them repeating their title feat from their debut term in the premier division in the 2002-03 season.

Their return to all-conquering form has been attributed to a concerted fitness campaign undertaken during this year's break.

Said team manager Ian Tooms: "A lot of us , myself included, were a little bit below par last season when we finished fifth. So quite a few of the guys put in a lot of effort during the summer to boost our fitness.

"I think we are now reaping the dividends of that. We used to win games 3-2 when those matches might have gone the other way. But now we are winning far more comfortably either by 5-0 or 4-1. That's a result, I am sure, of the extra training which was put in during the summer."

Tooms added that Wigginton's strength had been increased by a far more competitive second-string which ensured there was a keener battle for places.

And the club's status had been further enhanced by the recruitment of world number 17, Frenchman Renan Levigne, who actually travelled from his native France to compete in the derby duel against York NG.

"He is a great asset to the club. Not only is he a top player, but to have a player rated in the top 20 in the world to be playing here is a massive boost for the younger players at Wigginton," enthused Tooms.

Levigne, the current French number two, featured in the derby match of the night when he beat his York NG number one counterpart, Gareth Lumsdon, 3-1. The latter did well to take a set off his illustrious foe, the cost of whose appearances are shared by the Wigginton club and Duffield (Derbyshire) for whom he plays in the National League. Levigne has been coached by former York champion John Elstob, who is the French national coach.

Anton Green came closest to winning for York NG, taking the first and fourth games against Mitch Cook, the former England U17 number one, who is based in Derbyshire. Cook eventually prevailed 3-2.

Tooms won in four games against Yarm's Andy Parnaby, while Matt Lowery and Duncan Walsh had 3-0 victories over Nick Robinson and Nathan Hill respectively to complete the clean sweep.

Wigginton's excellent well-being is in sharp contrast to their York rivals. The only all-amateur team in the division, York NG have lost all their eight matches. They are without a sponsor and can't afford to pay professionals.

Derby day ahead for Wigginton ace

MATTHEW Lowery, the 28-year-old IT Sports Wigginton squash player, has been chosen to play for Derbyshire in the National Inter-county Championships at Edgbaston Priory on November 20 and 21.

Lowery (pictured right) opted to play for Derby-shire after being at university in the county. They meet Nottingham-shire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire over the two days of the championships.

Meanwhile, Ian Tooms, who also plays for Wigginton, makes his debut in the Yorkshire Over-35s team to play Cumbria, Cheshire and Derbyshire in the National Over-35s Championships at Barnsley this weekend.

Squash results

Yorkshire League Premier Division

York Next Generation 0, IT Sports Wigginton 5 (4-20): Gareth Lumsdon lost to Renan Levigne 2-11 11-9 10-11 7-11; Nathan Hill lost to Duncan Walsh 3-11 4-11 2-11; Nick Robinson lost to Matt Lowery 8-11 7-11 1-11; Andy Parnaby lost to Ian Tooms 11-6 6-11 5-11 6-11; Anton Green lost to Mitch Cook 11-10 4-11 5-11 11-7 7-11.

Updated: 10:30 Saturday, November 13, 2004