Second-placed York played their vital Top Ten League fixture needing a big win against third-placed Hornsea to progress in the competition.

York managed it and now have 69 points to Hull's 68 and Hornsea's 58 with one game to play.

York's last game is against Metrodome, while Hull meet Ryedale and Hornsea come up against Featherstone 'A'.

York triple David Stroughair, Michael Bruce and Phil Parsons took a 9-0 lead after only five ends and ran out 20-8 winners at home.

Paul Mooring and Graham Instone found themselves 11-0 down after six ends in the pairs.

But there was no prospect of an all-out collapse as they staged an excellent comeback to lead 12-11.

Hornsea scored singles on the next three ends but another good run, which included a maximum eight on the penultimate end, gave York a 26-19 win and the maximum six points at stake from the home leg.

John Emmerson had a fine win in the singles at Hornsea, where they went into the last end deadlocked at 20-20. He got the single he needed to win.

In the fours Iain Boyle, Gordon Smith, Graham Brooke and Doug Mitchell had a tough game.

They were 12-9 up after ten ends, drawing 14-14 after 15 but finally crashed 23-14.

York however gained 11 points from the match to go to the top.

Updated: 12:12 Thursday, January 25, 2001