York Amateur Bowling Association started the outdoor bowling season by beating York Club & Institute Union 115-92 at the Bert Keech club in the annual match between sides representing the two leagues.

Derek Marshal, president of the CIU, presented David Harrison with the trophy and thanked all for competing in a splendid pre-season game.

In division one of the York Amateur Bowling Association League, last year's top three, Haxby Road, RI Amateurs and Holgate are all undefeated after four games. Dunnington are the only other unbeaten team at the stage.

Bert Keech, who finished last season on a high note by winning the County Club Championship, have not had the start they were hoping for, going four games before registering a victory.

Stamford Bridge have got off to a flyer in division two with 28 points out of 32. Their next fixture, against undefeated Selby, will be a good guide to how the new club will cope at this level.

Division three has been decimated by the withdrawal of Fulford Conservatives and Copmanthorpe.

Clubs should note that the usual promotion/relegation rules of two up and two down may be altered to redress the inbalance of teams competing in each league.

Entries for the individual competitions close on Tuesday, May 25, and will be taken by any executive member up to the draw being made in York Indoor Bowling Club at 8.30pm.

Stevens qualifies

TEX Stevens, of Holgate club, has won through from the No 6, 7 and 8 districts qualifying rounds to the quarter-finals of the Yorkshire County Bowling Association Two-wood Singles Championship. The qualifying rounds were played at Clarence Gardens, York.

Stevens has qualified twice before as a group winner (1997, when he won the championship and 2001).

Eighteen-year-old Paul Humphreys (Holgate), the Junior Singles champion in 1999 and 2002, entered the Yorkshire Two-wood Singles for the first time this year and qualified for the next stage.

The qualifying rounds attracted a disappointing entry in what were ideal bowling conditions. The fact that the Rugby League Challenge Cup final was also taking place at the same time, might have had an effect on the attendance.

The quarter-finals will be played at Kirkbymoorside on Friday, June 25.

Triples draw

The draw for the first round of the Yorkshire County Bowls Triples

Championship (matches to be played by May 25() is: J Bone v T Quainton, S Smith v G G Walker, D Ralph v P Reeves, I Boyle v A Price, J Stakes v N Mallen, R Calpin v H Donaldson, K Nelson v Mal Harrison, R Mglone v J Walker, G Lewington v L Jackson, D Preece v D Moss, E Wilkinson bye, I Styles v C Brown.

Updated: 10:28 Thursday, May 20, 2004