A HUGE task faces York Indoor Bowls Club in the final round of Yorkshire League division one matches on Saturday.
They play leaders Featherstone needing three winning rinks and an overall aggregate win after disappointingly only picking up 12 points from a 93-78 victory against bottom-placed Harrogate.
At home, Dave Stroughair’s team were in top form. Ahead from the start, they only lost six ends to win 29-12.
Phil Emmerson’s side dropped a single on their first end, then won six on the trot picking up 16 shots before their opponents came back by scoring 13 unanswered shots.
However, a four then a three set the home side en route to a 28-20 victory.
Away, Mark Clarke’s team were disappointed after fighting from 18-17 down to lead 21-18 going into the last end.
But there they dropped a four to lose by a single shot.
Paul Humphreys’ side gave themselves hope when they scored a four on the 16th end to reduce the score to 16-12.
But dropped threes on the 17th and 19th ends, and a two on the last, proved costly in a 24-15 loss.
Selby did York a good turn and virtually sealed their top league position when they became the first team this season to beat Featherstone.
They won 82-81, seizing 12 points to six to edge 17 points clear of second from bottom Huddersfield.
Selby play second-placed Scarborough, who have their own title aspirations, on Saturday.
If results go their way then the east coast team can overturn the eight-shot deficit by which they trail the table-toppers.
In division two, New Earswick upset Ryedale’s title ambitions when they beat them 100-56, picking up 17 out of the 18 available points.
At home, Bill Waldie’s team got off to a flier to lead 20-6 after only ten ends before triumphing 33-9.
Barry Johnson’s team’s 16-12 advantage with six ends to play was reinforced by a 22-15 victory.
Away, Barry Harrison’s team stormed to a 25-12 conquest after leading 14-0 after only five ends.
Paul Dawson’s team trailed 15-14 with six ends to play; were level at 17-17 with three to play and finally locked at 20-20 by the end.
If New Earswick repeat similar wins in their last two games against Thornaby on Saturday, and Redcar the week after, then they will have a good chance of attaining promotion.
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