A WORLD-CLASS collision is poised to celebrate an historic championship conquest by IT Sports Wigginton.

The Wigginton wonders of the squash court pasted Pontefract 2nds 5-0 to capture the Yorkshire League premier division title - the first time that particular crown has been won by a York-based team.

The championship success is all the more astounding given that this is only the second season the IT Sports crew have played at such an exalted level.

Now they are gunning for a double, with the Yorkshire Cup holders bidding to regain their crown when they entertain keen rivals Harrogate in a semi-final at Wigginton next Wednesday.

And what an encounter that promises to be. For pitching racquets against each other in a cracking courtroom engagement will be Wigginton's world ranked number four John White against Harrogate's world number ten Anthony Ricketts.

Of the championship glory confirmed by 17 consecutive league victories, player/manager and major sponsor Ian Tooms paid tribute to the team and especially skipper Matt Lowery.

Enthused Tooms: "Matthew has been fantastic both on court and behind the scenes.

"It's been a brilliant achievement to get where we are in the time that we have done it. He's always believed we would get there and we have.

"Spirits are really high and everyone is playing well. We have used no less than 11 players so far this season, but the club and the members have been fantastic supporting us, especially chairman Bob Boyle, who has backed the team from day one."

Next up is the keenly-awaited semi-final against Harrogate, a tie that will test the resolve of the so far unbowed and newly-crowned champions when it opens for play next Wednesday at Wigginton SC at 7.30pm.

Said Lowery: "They have the potential to give us a good game as they are very strong at the top of their order.

"We will have to put out a strong team against them to stop a major upset."

In clinching the premier division title Tooms, playing at number five, toppled Lauren Sydall 3-0, while Lowery beat Christian Donalon 3-1. York champion Jamie Hopwood cruised to a 3-0 win over Peter Lonsdale, a margin of victory matched by both number two player Duncan Walsh and number one on the night, Paul Hargrave.

Updated: 11:44 Saturday, March 29, 2003