HOLDERS Wendy Stirke and Louise Lister had little difficulty reaching the final of the Fulford Ladies Invitation League's IT Sports Doubles Tournament.

They cruised to victory at New Earswick - one of eight tennis centres staging qualification matches.

They will start favourites to win the final at Fulford on Saturday, September 22 (1.30pm) but will face a big challenge from former winners Julie Reilly and Jackie Heels (Fulford), who won their group at Bishopthorpe easily.

Most of the major battles were for the runners-up spots, although Bubwith's Liz Bramley and Jill Schofield, who won at Wistow with 35 games, were defeated 5-4 by eventual runners-up Denise Neary and Helen Hadfield (Wheldrake).

Pocklington's Val French and Helen Whilesmith edged into the runners-up spot at Bishopthorpe by beating Anna Airaksiners and Linda Tennant (Bubwith) 5-4.

Fulford finals' qualifiers

New Earswick: 1 Wendy Stirke and Louise Lister (York), 2 Lynette Bramah and Jenny Grant (Wheldrake).

Bishopthorpe: 1 Julie Reilly and Jackie Heels (Fulford), 2 Val French and Helen Whilesmith (Pocklington).

Fulford: 1 Debbie and Kirsty Godwin (Selby), 2 Beryl Bean and Eileen Lavender (Fulford).

Riccall: 1 Jackie Ritchie and Wendy Cook (Civil Service), 2 Anne Talbot (Cawood) and Stephenie Jinks (Fulford)

Dunnington: 1 Jill McCreedy and Anna Baker (Fulford), 2 Sandra Jennings (Tollerton) and Chantal Lancaster (New Earswick).

Cawood: 1 Helen Leach and Karen Reteif (York), 2 Georgina Worley (Cawood) and Linda Irving (Fulford).

Civil Service: 1 Rosie Cantrell and Sue Peach (Poppleton), 2 Ruby Gourlay and Janet Hare (Selby).

Wistow: 1 Liz Bramley and Jill Schofield (Bubwith), 2 Denise Neary and Helen Hadfield (Wheldrake).

Meanwhile, Selby staved off relegation from division two of the Fulford Ladies Invitation League with a 79-29 win over Appleton Roebuck to nudge Cawood, who lost at Rowntree Park, into division three.

Wheldrake won division five following their 74-34 win over Selby. They finished five points clear of second-placed Pocklington, who beat Bishopthorpe 87-21.

Bishopthorpe were also beaten 64-44 by Appleton Roebuck, who moved into fourth place.

Updated: 11:53 Tuesday, September 11, 2001