YORK Amateur Bowling Association president Marshall Robertson started the outdoor bowling season in style, skipping a rink in the annual match between teams representing YABA and Club & Institute leagues.

He scored seven on the first end, going on to lead his rink to a 31-19 win and the YABA to a 131-99 victory. C&I president Jim Bone presented him with the cup which C&I had won by a similar margin last year.

The opening matches of the Persimmon Homes/Ideal Standard YABA Bowls League produced several close finishes.

Bert Keech beat West Park 6-2, but only one shot decided the aggregate points and Hull Road Park had Ken Harrison to thank for four points as his last wood of the match removed Shipton's winner and scored five shots.

Eric Wilkinson's rink secured five points for RI Amateurs winning by enough shots to cover the three losing rinks against Nestl Rowntree.

Osbaldwick, champions of division two last year, have got off to a decent start in division one, taking two points off current champions Holgate and eight off Railway Amateurs.

Dringhouses, who were also promoted last year are off to a flying start with wins against Dunnington and Nestl Rowntree.

Entry forms for YABA individual competitions have been distributed and entries will be taken up to the draw taking place at York Indoor Bowls Club on Tuesday, May 27.

Yorkshire Bowls Association two-wood singles competition for clubs in districts six, seven and eight will be played at Clarence Gardens, York, on Saturday.

Entries, costing £2.50, will be taken up to 12.30pm and play will then continue down to two qualifiers, who will go through to the quarter-finals at a later date.

The draw for the first round of the Yorkshire Bowling Association Pairs (Matches to be played by May 21) is:

Section 'A': G Bunce v A Hattee, D Moss v D Ralph, J Stroughair v J Emmerson, S Smith v A Price, R Bycroft v M Thompson, F Turner v J Hillman, S Sanderson v J R Allan, T Quianton v E B Walker.

Section 'B': D Clayden v A Longfield, A Lewis v C Brown, P Littlewood 17, J Ciplinski 20; D Preece v M Harrison, B Matthews v P Roberts w/o, J Bone v T Stevens, E Wilkinson v K Lippett, R Calpin v B Howland (K Robinson).

Section 'C': A Abbott v W Waldie, R Gilyeat v E Howcroft, V Wooley v S Atkinson, J Mokes v J Backhouse, P Reeves v B Gray, M Emmett 29, F Daniel 11, B Sprigg v D Horsley, S Gill v L Jackson.

Results should be phoned to M Harrison, phone York (01904) 798374.

Updated: 08:51 Thursday, May 15, 2003