HALFWAY through the fixtures in the Persimmon Homes-Ideal Standard Bowls Leagues, Haxby Road are nine points clear of Holgate after RI Amateurs proved formidable opposition in their own green beating Holgate 6-1.

The Amateurs are the only team to beat Haxby Road and only early losses at Dunnington and Osbaldwick prevented them being a serious threat to the leaders.

At 7-1 victory for Osbaldwick over West Park enabled them to jump four places off the bottom.

RI Corinthians are still undefeated in division two with a 25 point lead over Stamford Bridge, who lost ground following a 7-1 defeat at Dunnington, where the 'B' team have gone four games without loss.

They are now challenging for promotion and may change over with the 'A' side, who have lost five successive games in division one.

Consecutive wins for Poppleton and three out of five victories for Stewart have lifted them out of the relegation zone at the expense of Poppleton Road WMC.

Newcomers Selby still look favourites for the division three title despite losing 7-1 to Holgate WMC and congratulations to Acomb who have ended a run of 10 consecutive defeats with a hat trick of wins.

Persimmon Homes-Ideal Standard competitions

Fours Prelim (Friday, June 20)

West Park 6.30pm: A Dunbar v T Shepherdson, P Godwin v J Caulfield.

Triples Prelim (Friday, June 27, 6.30pm)

Clarence Gardens: J Caulfield v B Walker, J Stevenson v D Fentiman, J Emmerson v K Ryder, B Johnson v B Cooper, R Gileat v G Mackie.

Scarcroft: A J Dalby v P Reeves, P Godwin v L Jackson, A Dunbar v T Quainton, C Haigh v P Henderson, K Lippett v G Bunce.

Byes: D Preece, G Dalby, J Stroughair, R Coulson, T Shepherdson and T Hague.

Pairs Prelim (Sunday, June 29, 2pm)

Clarence Gardens: A Sugden v W Pearson, W Brookes v J Blanchard, J Scott v A J Dalby, J Bycroft v G Scruton.

West Park: J Stevenson v A Dunbar, J Caulfield v T Quainton, K Ryder v J Stroughair.

Updated: 09:52 Thursday, June 19, 2003