DUNNINGTON bounced back from last week’s rare setback in emphatic style by thumping Chapel Allerton 1 to head into the Christmas break in total control of squash's Yorkshire Premier League.

The defending champions fell to their first defeat of the season last Wednesday night at Pontefract 1 but normal service was resumed this week as they dispatched the visitors from north Leeds with a 5-0 (20-5) triumph.

Although second-placed Hallamshire also won handsomely, 20-0 at Pontefract 2, Dunnington will be highly satisfied with their 21-point lead at the top at the season’s halfway stage.

Ed Shannon began the Dunnington rout with a straight-games win over Declan Christie at fifth string and Michael Andrews maintained his 100 per cent YPL record this season after his opponent, former world number three Simon Parke, had to withdraw at 2-1 down due to a calf injury.

Julian Tomlinson was extended to five in a gruelling duel with Kiwi Joe Williams and world number 141 Rob Downer also had to dig deep against Chapel 'A’s second-string Welshman Owain Taylor before taking the deciding fifth game 11-2.

Guernseyman Chris Simpson made short work of Mark Fuller at top string to complete the Dunnington clean sweep.

Meanwhile, Matthew Stephenson, a member of the Dunnington team, has been appointed the new chairman of Yorkshire Squash.

Stephenson is one of the leading over-45 players in the Masters tournaments held around the country and represents England in the Masters Home Internationals.