Haxby Road remain top of division one in the Persimmon Homes-Ideal Standard Bowls Leagues.

Their latest victory came thanks to Steve Long, Alan Clapham, John Stroughair and Gary Bunce, whose rink won 30-11 against Railway Amateurs by enough shots to take the overall aggregate points for a 5-3 win.

Victories for Dringhouses over Burnholme (8-0) and West Park (6-1) lifts them out of the relegation zone, but leaves the other two clubs at the bottom.

In division two, Stamford Bridge ended a run of four consecutive defeats with a 7-1 win over runaway leaders RI Corinthians keeping them in joint-second with Clifton, who are in contention for promotion following four wins on the trot.

Although in fourth, City Amateurs have only lost two games in division three and have at least two games in hand over rivals to join Selby in promotion.

Extra ends were required for Jim Dalby (Poppleton Road WMC) to beat John Stroughair (Haxby Road) in the pairs and Mal Bulmer to defeat Brian Gray (Shipton) in the fours.

Last end victories for Osbaldwick's John Caulfield and Barry Cooper's fours over Arthur Dunbar (York RI Amateurs) and Phil Reeves (Clifton) results in alternative dates for the quarter-finals as their Scottish bowls tour clashes with the next round.

Eric Wilkinson, Alan Close and Arthur Dunbar (York RI Amateurs) in the triples, with Malcolm and Mark Harrison (Holgate) in the pairs, have reached the Yorkshire County Finals at Nafferton on July 20 which also qualifies them to compete in the National Championships at Worthing during August.

Persimmon Homes-Ideal Standard Bowls Competitions

Wednesday, July 16 at 6.45pm

Williamson Cup semi-finals: Bert Keech or Stamford Bridge v Dunnington 'A' or Shipton at Clarence. Heworth Cons or Holgate WMC v Holgate or Haxby Road at Rowntree Park.

Freedom & Fellowship Cup semi-finals: Scarcroft or RI Amateurs v Dringhouses or Clifton at Shipton. RI Corinthians or City Amateurs v Poppleton Road WMC or University at Scarcroft.

Pairs on Sunday at 2pm.

Scarcroft: A Sugden v T Quainton, P Witherwick v V M Mooring, H Rhodes v G Dalby, P Henderson v P Godwin.

Clarence: A J Dalby v P Durkin, J Emmerson v D Preece, J Allan v G Mackie, M Goodall v A Lewis. Next round July 27.

Singles on Tuesday, July 15 at 6.45pm

West Park: R Tiplady v A Thornton, T Quainton v R Coulson, H Rhodes v P Witherwick.

Clarence: A J Dalby v D Sykes, L Jackson v A Dunbar, K Lippett v G Dalby, G Eagles v T Stevens, bye B Gray.

Next round and consolation singles on August 5.

Fours Quarter-finals, Friday, July 18

West Park at 6.45pm: M Bulmer v J Stroughair, A J Dalby v J Emmerson.

Fours Quarter-finals, Wednesday, July 23

Scarcroft:: K Ryder v B Cooper.

Friday, August 1

Clarence: J Caulfield v G Bunce.

Updated: 08:55 Thursday, July 10, 2003