NEW heights of glory have been scaled by the wizards of Wigginton Squash Club.

In an unprecedented double-header triumph Wigginton rebounded rousingly from a 2-0 deficit to overpower last year's Yorkshire League and Cup champions Heaton 3-2.

The five-game thriller was a double-header as it also represented a Yorkshire Cup semi-final, and gutsy Wigginton prevailed in the grittiest of styles to reach the final away to champions-in-waiting Pontefract at Pontefract on May 1.

May-day might well have been the signal Wigginton were sending up after their opening two matches in front of a near 100-strength home crowd against Heaton.

Wigginton stalwart Ian Tooms came out all guns blazing against Phillip Rushworth at number five. But after winning the first two games he went down 3-2. That same outcome befell Wigginton's number four player Matt Lowery against Ben Rickerby to put the hosts up against it.

But then came the fight-back that thrilled their fans and maintained the club's energising first crack at the Yorkshire Premier League.

Irish number one Jon Rooney scorched to a 3-0 demolition of Heaton's Alex Stait in a one-sided encounter of the number threes.

Kent-based John Russell then entered the court in what was only his third appearance of the season for the Wigginton outfit. He did not disappoint, producing breathtaking squash to topple Adam Stevenson 3-1.

All now hinged on the final duel, the clash of the number ones - Wigginton's one-time England international Paul Hargrave against current England number 11 Paul Lord. Hargrave was equal to the demands of the night. In less than 40 minutes he swept side his opponent for a comfortable 3-0 conquest.

Besides sealing a place in the cup final the victory meant that Wigginton now need a maximum 20 points from their final league game to clinch runners-up spot in the table in their first season at this level.

Updated: 10:55 Saturday, March 30, 2002