Bradford beat champions Halifax in the final match of the National Super League season - a fine end to a difficult year for the Heaton club.

And their late form prevented them from picking up the wooden spoon - that

dubious honour went to Winchester.

Bradford have taken part in some thrilling games during the season and given some entertaining performances in front of packed galleries.

In their final match against an under-strength Halifax who had already secured the title, Simon Parke and Alex Stait won their games but Ali Walker was well beaten.

Third string Stait was on court first and he couldn't have given Bradford a better start, thrashing Ashley Flathers 3-0 (9-1,

9-2, 9-1).

After the first couple of rallies it was clear there was a difference in standard and that Flathers was not at the peak of his fitness. He did not want to play out any long rallies and went for winners right from the start - a ploy that didn't work.

Next on court was Walker, who found Marcus Berrett a difficult opponent - and he was beaten 3-0.

The first game was close but with the score on 7-7, Berrett hit a series of beautiful drop shots forcing mistakes from Walker.

Walker tried to pick up the pace in the second game but lost it 9-6. Berrett then controlled the third game and took it 9-5.

So the match was down to the First strings - Bradford's Simon Parke and Halifax's Adrian Grant.

The first rally lasted an

eternity with neither player playing short.

Parke took an early lead as Grant made a few mistakes under pressure from Parke's constant retrieving.

With a 7-2 lead, Parke should have had the game but Grant found some great winners and length and managed to tie the game at 8-8. But a good winning length and a stroke from a loose ball gave Parke the game 10-8.

The second game was close again. Grant hit some good winning balls and length but failed to capitalise

errors to allow Parke to keep the scores close. At 7-7 the pressure was too much and two mistakes gave the game to Parke 9-7. Squash is a game about tiny differences in good length and great retrieving and the tiny differences went in Grant's favour as he took a 6-1 lead. But Parke started to go for a few winners and moved Grant around the court.

With two great winners and a mistake from his opponent, Parke got back into the game 5-6. The game became much more loose with both players hitting winners, making mistakes and giving away strokes. Although Grant had to cover much more ground in the game, he still managed to sneak it 9-7.

Grant now tried to speed up the game to get Parke out of position but the ploy back-fired with Parke often taking the ball early on the volley. The game could have gone either way as it went to 8-8.

Then Parke dropped Grant into the front backhand corner, read the drop, counter dropped, read the straight drive and was there to volley into the back before his opponent could move.

At 9-8 and match ball, Parke again

volley-dropped to the front, waited for the cross-court drive and volleyed into the back, giving Grant no time to get back to the T, and claimed the match 10-8.