SQUASH: Champions elect Manchester Northern confirmed their position at the top of the table was no fluke with a 5-0 defeat of Chester RUFC.
While Manchester were at full strength, Chester, with injury problems and absentees due to professional tour commitments, were one pro short and that proved crucial.
Northern's Chris Clarke was made to fight by Chester's John Thompson, but the crucial points went his way and he put Northern 1-0 up.
Danny Massaro, who has made rapid improvement this year, was simply too good for Chester's Jonathan Davies, who has had only three defeats all season.
Club professional Cornelius Mussonda completely dominated a weary and jaded Nick Gatwood, who cannot wait for the end of the season to recharge his batteries.
Chester captain Jon Clark, still not at full fitness following injury problems, pushed top Manchester pro Peter Bilson extremely close in the first game, but Bilson comfortably won the next two to put Northern four up.
In the best match of the night, Jethro Binns played some superb squash to push Andy Whipp. But despite playing to his best, he could not stop the Northern bandwagon and Whipp came through in three tight games to make it 5-0. nChester Seconds almost produced the result of the season as they led 2-0 against high-flying Alderley Edge, who came back to steal a 3-2 triumph.
