AS the York and District Ideal Standard/Persimmon Homes Bowls League reaches halfway, Holgate have the title well within their grasp.

Haxby Road are now favourites for the runners-up spot after a 7-1 victory over Bert Keech.

At the other end of the table Stamford Bridge are losing ground after their 5-3 defeat to fellow strugglers West Park but Burnholme have moved out of the relegation zone with wins over Ainsty (8-0) and Nestl Rowntree (7-1).

Osbaldwick, with five wins out of six, have emerged as Dringhouses' most likely challengers for the division two title.

After three consecutive wins Poppleton Road WMC could be the team to challenge Osbaldwick and Dringhouses them for promotion.

At the bottom of the table there is a ten point gap between Minster and City Amateurs which leaves them with relegation problems. Minster's first win of the season over City Amateurs was not enough to lift them off the bottom.

Victories for Fulford Conservatives over Acomb and University leaves Wetherby as the only team still to register their first win in the leagues.

YABA Ideal Standard/Persimmon Homes Competitions

Triples first round, Friday, June 28, start 6.45pm.

Clarence Gardens: A Smith v A Thornton, A J Dalby v D Harrison, N Cammidge v M Birkley, Geoff Dalby v L Jackson.

Scarcroft:: P Godwin v K Lippett, S Lea v P Reeves, T Hague v C Brown, G Mackie v R Calpin.

West Park: B Gray v B Cooper, J Blanchard v K Ryder, G Bunce v B Walker, J Allan v D Wadsworth.

Byes: J Stroughair, J Caulfield, T Stevens, J Stevenson.

Updated: 12:26 Thursday, June 20, 2002