THE indoor bowling season reached a thrilling climax with a series of play-offs and knockout finals at New Earswick IBC.

A new name was etched onto the men’s singles trophy as Andrew Fothergill got the better of Graham Bell.

It was nip and tuck at 8-8 after seven ends and 16-16 after 15.

Fothergill took the next two ends to move closer to the title at 19-16, but Bell hit back and it was level again at 19-19 after 19 ends.

Twice a runner-up Fothergill finally got his hands on the trophy by picking up a two on the 20th end to win 21-19.

The women’s singles saw last year’s runner-up Jane Stockton beat Sue Todd 21-15.

They were tied at 15-15 after 16 ends and she won it with singles.

Ralph Tiplady (-4) had to pull out all the shots to beat Tim Axe (+3) 21-15 in the handicap singles.

In the men’s singles plate final, David Imeson took a four on the first end, but Ralph Tiplady edged ahead at 13-11. After 18 ends, it was 16-16 but then Tiplady pulled clear to win 23-17.

Graham Bell and Joe Barker, last year’s men’s pairs runners-up, beat Fothergill and Ian Farrar on the last end. Fothergill and Farrar led 15-5 after 11, but a remarkable recovery led by Barker saw them claw back to 17-17 after 20 ends.

A single on the last end saw Bell and Barker lift the title.

The women’s pairs went to Margaret Moss and Pat Walker, took a 12-0 lead over Stockton and Norma Davies en route to a 26-12 win, while Ralph Tiplady and Pat Lancaster beat Dave and Kath Sykes 23-14 in the mixed pairs final.

Fothergill, Guy Borthwick and Axe went down 18-15 against Dave Sykes, Betty Inwood and Pat Inwood in the any triples.

The two-wood pairs final saw Barry Johnson and Mick Stannard pipped at the post by Mel Lancaster and Albert Wilson.

Johnson and Stannard led 11-3 by the ninth end, but Lancaster and Wilson led 16-15 at the 19th end and eventually snatched the win with a single on the last end.

The men’s triples final went to Graham Lockwood’s team, who won 19-9 against Graham Bell’s side.

Women’s triples holders Margaret Moss’ team were 16-14 winners over Moyra Headley’s team in the final.

In the men’s pairs, Gordon Storey’s team took an early 7-2 lead, but were 10-7 adrift to Ian Farrar’s team after nine ends.

At 16 ends, it was 14-14 but then there were fireworks as the teams traded big scores before Storey’s side edged to victory.

Mavis Hardcastle’s side, the reigning women’s pairs champions, were never headed by Moyra Headley’s team and retained the trophy 34-15.

The mixed pairs was a war of attrition between David Pearson’s team and the holders, led by Ian Farrar, who retained the title.

The vets mixed triples went to Pat Inwood’s team, who beat Vic Thompson’s side 23-19.

Barry Harrison’s reigning vets men’s triples champions lost 24-6 to Ron Wood’s triple. Harrison’s vets men’s fours team fared better, beating Bob Howland’s team 21-19.

Brian Gray’s mixed triples side were second best in the final as Fothergill’s team triumphed 16-13.

The women’s fours was won by Moira Ellis’ team, 29-8 winners over Pat Storey’s 2011 and 2012 champions.

In the men’s fours, Bill Waldie’s team always held the upper hand running out 19-12 winners.

New Earswick’s presentation night will be on Wednesday, May 3.

• York Indoor Bowls Club stage their presentation tonight, at 8pm.