SWEAT-BOXES in York are dripping with as much inspiration as perspiration.

The courts of endeavour in question belong to the city's squash clubs, which are witnessing a renaissance recalling the early 1980s when the sport boomed as much as housing prices.

That latter market somewhat predictably ended in bust. While such a deafening drop was not quite mirrored in the squash world, it nevertheless sagged in the intervening decade.

But squash is again thriving in York and never more so than at the respective head-quarters of Wigginton Squash Club and their York SC counterparts at Clifton Park.

Besides that there is a burgeoning wing of young talent rising at York Railway Institute, while the city currently boasts England's leading under-12 junior champion in Neil Cordell. Little wonder then that followers of York squash are sporting broader smiles than for a while.

If further evidence were needed of a new strong-arm for the sport then it was vibrantly visible this week when the two clubs met in the premier division of the Yorkshire League.

The tie attracted a crowd of more than 60 aficionados to Wigginton Squash Club, all straining to get glimpses of the five games that constituted the all-city collision.

The standard of play in each of the encounters was at times breath-taking - from the technique of the visitors' former York champion Steve Hodgson and athleticism of young captain Jamie Hopwood, to the sheer class of Wigginton's John Rooney, the current Irish number one, and the precision of team-mate Matthew Oxley, two of the club's professionals.

In the event hosts Wigginton sampled a whitewash, a 5-0 triumph that improved their current supremacy over their Clifton Park neighbours in the premier division ratings.

However, the Wigginton wallopers graciously conceded that their York opponents had been badly hampered by the absence of one of their pro' clan, Paul Spencer. Everyone agreed had he been available the outcome would have been far closer with Wigginton more likely to avenge their earlier 3-2 defeat by York by the same slender margin.

But that was not to detract from Wigginton's glee in showing not only how they have matched their more established city adversaries, but that they have proved a considerable force in the county's premier flight.

Enthused captain Ian Tooms, a mainstay of the club for all but a year out of the last two decades: "There is a keen rivalry. We are all mates. But when we play we want to win and Wigginton wants to be the best club in York. York feel that way too.

"We have only been going in the premier division for half a season and our aim was to establish ourselves and prove we are a match for some of the bigger clubs.

"York have already proved that over the years and I think we have done that.

"What we didn't want was to have just one year in the top division and then for it all to go pear-shaped."

The 32-year-old Tooms added that there was a longer-term plan in place at Wigginton, including the possibility of having a glass-fronted court built to provide better viewing facilities, as well as a more concerted push for honours in the premier division.

The major obstacle for Wigginton's sustained success was a present dearth of playing depth.

Explained Tooms: "The only problem is that there are a lot of guys still playing my sort of age and then there's quite a drop to the 11 and 12 year-olds.

"I was playing in a men's team when I was 13 and then when I was 15 in the Yorkshire League.

"You've got to have a lot of experience at a young age."

Under Yorkshire League rules while a team can field several professionals it has to include two Yorkshire-based players. Wigginton's are Tooms and number four stalwart Matt Lowery.

"If there were to be a problem with myself or Matt then we are without a recognised sixth player. We have got a young lad of about 17 in Johnny Duffield. We are looking to him to come through and then there's Neil Cordell, who is the British champion for the Under-12s."

However, Tooms remains confident that Wigginton - and indeed York - can indeed sustain the dual challenge in the county's elite division.

"I am chuffed to bits with the support the team has had from the committee here and the support we have had with people watching us home and away," said the skipper.

"Next year we would like to lift the level again and start knocking on the door."

Updated: 11:48 Saturday, December 15, 2001