Something new has been shaking up the greens in York over the last few weeks with the first ever Super 7 Bowls Competition.

A new format, devised by Haxby Road bowler John Stroughair, featuring teams of seven, has already made a big splash on the local scene.

Results so far have seen Haxby Road Rockets beat Osbaldwick Outlaws 7-1 and draw 4-4 with Bootham Braves, and the Outlaws beat the Braves 6-2.

The all-Railway Institute clash, meanwhile, came out with the Cougars on top, 6-2, although the Dragons salvaged a point against Osbaldwick in a 4-4 draw.

And on Tuesday, the RI Cougars beat Bootham Braves 6-2.

Two points are awarded for a win on any of the three rinks or for getting the aggregate score, with points halved in a draw.

Stroughair, who dreamt up the competition to give bowlers an end of season trophy and encourage new players to get involved, said: "It's proving to be enjoyable and there has already been interest from new teams for next year.

"The sport is under a bit of a threat at the moment. It often seems difficult to get sufficient numbers to play.

"I thought there was more chance of a club fielding a smaller team, then I worked on that to get something a bit catchy and came up with Super 7s in the same vein as Twenty20 and Super 6 cricket."

Other amendments to the traditional game include jazzed up team names and a new system of shared responsibility within the teams. Every member of the pairs and triples must switch order of play so they all have a go at one, two and skip after an equal length of time.

The pairs swap after eight of their 16 ends, while the triples change after every five of their 15, which also adds an extra tactical dimension.

Added Stroughair: "One of the biggest reasons for doing this is to get younger people involved. Bowls could end up dying out if we don't start teaching others how to play. But rather than getting despondent about it, I prefer to think up ways of making things different and more appealing.

"Bowls is a good social game and anyone can play. You can have little kids aged seven or eight playing alongside 85-year-old grandmothers. It's a game for everyone."

Tonight, RI Dragons will be going for their first win against Haxby Road Rockets at Falconer Street, starting 6.30pm, while the Bootham Braves face the RI Dragons on Tuesday at Clarence Gardens, start 6.15pm.

All-York final afoot

There could be an all-York final of the Yorkshire County Bowls Club Championship with two teams primed for a final place.

Holgate and Shipton have both made it through to the semi-finals and could yet face each other in the final with both in different sides of the draw.

If either of them were to go through and win the trophy, it would be a first for each of them.

Shipton play Marske at Swinton, while Northallerton will take on Holgate at Kirkbymoorside, both starting at 10am on Sunday. The winners will then go head to head at Malton Bowls Club at 2pm.

Updated: 09:38 Thursday, August 26, 2004