RI Amateurs beat Minster 79-78 in the final of the York Bowling Association Freedom and Fellowship Cup.

The Minster rink of J Slater, T Smith, J Pindar and D Deighton required five shots on the last end for overall victory, but after claiming five the measure only gave three shots for a 37-10 win over D Roberts, S Atkinson, A P Cox and J R Pidcock.

Other rink scores were H Marshall, P Smith, M Bruce, I Boyle (RI) 28, A Campy, J Harrison, J Thompson, B Harrison 9; L Ostergaard, D Game, P Scott, R Cowl (RI) 24, P Curran B Calpin, N Harrison, L Freer 9; A Penrose, A Watson, A Close, E Wilkinson (RI) 17, R Sessions, I Hagan, N Sleightholm, N Briggs 23.

Shipton's Ken Lippitt and Brian Gray have qualified to represent the north of England in the last eight of the Over-55s men's pairs championship at Bromley, Kent, on September 11-12.

They beat Northumberland champions A Johnson and E Marshall 18-15 in the northern final at Darlington.

The home duo took an early 9-3 lead, but after winning six consecutive ends the Shipton pair went ahead 11-10 at 15 ends. A firing shot gave Northumberland four shots, but a perfect trail by Gray got them back and singles on the last three ends saw them through.

After losing in the fours' semi-final to Harry Rhodes, Ron Newton, Jamie Birkley and Mick Clark (Haxby Road) 19-14, Ian Farrar, Phil Reeves and Peter Long (Clifton) were successful in the triples beating B Walker's (Hull Road) threesome 18-8.

The other fours' finalists are the Ryders, Keith (senior) and (junior), plus Nigel, with Maurice Heffernan (Retreat), who beat Mick Birkley's Poppleton Road four 20-17. Kevin Goodrick, Eric Ward and Brian Gray (Shipton) made it to the triples with a 27-14 win over G Dalby (Poppleton Road).

Noel Mallen and Gerald Mackie (Holgate) failed at the semi final stage of the pairs for the second consecutive year losing 22-21 to John Allen and Martin Foster of Nestl Rowntree. The Holgate pair dropped three shots on the last end.

Ray Higgins and Bill Pearson (Bishopthorpe) reached the final beating Clive Brown's Wetherby pair 18-12 played in atrocious weather.

The finals are at Copmanthorpe on Saturday, September 1.

A 7-1 win over City Amateurs confirmed Minster as division three champions in the Persimmon Homes Ideal Standard Leagues.

City Amateurs need five points from the outstanding game against Vickers for the runners-up place.

Division one champions Holgate just failed to complete the season undefeated losing 2-6 at Bert Keech.

Six points for Dunnington 'B' against Copmanthorpe lifted them above Heworth Cons who are now relegated from division two.

Despite additional prize money entries for the Bert Keech 2 Wood Competition have not reached expected levels and the event will not take place on Bank Holiday Monday.

The rain interrupted John Smith's Triples semi finals will resume at West Park on Sunday, 10 am start. The finals will follow.

Updated: 11:01 Thursday, August 23, 2001