RI AMATEURS' visit to Shipton in the first round of the York Bowling Association's Williamson Cup provided a nail-biting finish.

The game was all square as the last end started. After Shipton removed two good lead woods to lay shot the RI skip was unfortunate to trail the jack with his last wood to Skipton, who will visit Dunnington in the next round.

Selby, who have had little difficulty since joining the league in divisons two and three, found RI Corinthians of division one too strong and lost 84-71 at home.

Bootham's 75-63 win at Dringhouses was the surprise of the round in the Fellowship Cup.

Only one league game was possible due to the cup programme and there was little change in division one with most teams in the top half winning.

However, in division two, Selby completed the double over nearest rivals Stamford Bridge to go 13 points clear at the top.

Division three leaders Poppleton took advantage of the fact that rivals Holgate WMC had a bye and increased their lead with a 7-1 victory over Scarcroft.

Mal Bulmer's RI Corinthians quartet, holders of the fours title, lost in the first round this time to George Scruton's (Hull Road Park) team.

Les Jackson's (Heworth Cons) squad won a tight game against a strong RI Amateurs rink under Eric Wilkinson.

YABA Competitions

Triples: Friday, July 9 at 6.45pm: At Glen Gardens - P Reeves v G Mackie; At Clarence Gardens - T Quainton v R Tiplady, B Gray v M Bulmer, S Lea v A Dunbar; At West Park - L Bateson v B Cooper, K Ryder v G Lewington, J Emmerson v J Dalby, A Cook v B Walker.

Pairs: Sunday, July 11 at 2pm: At Clarence - M Bulmer v T Quainton, R Greaves v R Coulson, P Witherwick v P Godwin, L Bateson v P Durkin, W Brooks v K Nelson, R Gilyeat v K Ryder, D Wadsworth v G Lewington; At Glen Gardens - J Cooper v P Reeves, J Stroughair v J Dalby, A Cook v J Caulfield, R Bycroft v L Jackson, G Mackie v P Herridge. Byes P Henderson, A Dunbar, D Dale, S Gill. Next round July 25.

Singles: Tuesday, July 13 6.45pm: At Clarence Gardens - A Cook v S Gill, P Witherwick v M Foster, J Cooper v T Nicol, L Jackson v H Whenham, D Preece v R Tiplady, G Eagles v T Stephens, W Brookes v G Storey. Remainder byes. First named to arrange markers.

Williamson and Fellowship Cup semi-finals: Wednesday, July 14 Dunnington 'A' or Shipton v West Park or Hull Road Park at Falconer St, Bert Keech or RI Corinthians v Holgate or Poppleton Road WMC at Shipton, Haxby Road or Acomb v Clifton or Heworth Cons at Clarence/West Park, Bootham or Stamford Bridge v Holgate WMC or Stewart at Dunnington.

Fours: Friday, July 16 at 6.45pm: At Clarence - J Emmerson v L Jackson, J Caulfield v P Godwin; At Glen Gardens - P Reeves v J Dalby, G Scruton v J Stroughair.

Updated: 11:05 Thursday, July 08, 2004