Bootham dealt a severe blow to Selby's York Bowling Association division two title hopes beating them 7-1 on their own green as Stamford Bridge kept in touch by winning 6-2 against nearest rivals Poppleton Road WMC.

Selby, with games left against Minster and Clifton, are eight points in front of Stamford Bridge, who have three matches left against Dunnington, Clifton and Osbaldwick.

Rain washed out Monday's fixtures, including Holgate v Haxby Road, which would probably have decided the champions of division one and the only thing now certain is that West Park and Harrogate are relegated.

In division 3 after losing three of their first four games Poppleton have remained undefeated for the rest of the season and Holgate WMC can only tie with them at the top by taking maximum points from games against Scarcroft and Acomb.

The semi-finals of the fours competition provided two excellent games.

J Birkley, M Stannard, J Stroughair and E Howcroft trailed S Gill, M Smith, D Sanderson and P Godwin by five shots after four ends. A four on the sixth, followed by two consecutive threes, gave Howcroft a slight advantage which allowed them to play the last end 18-16 up and hold P Godwin to one shot.

J Emmerson, N Mallen, T Stephens and P Emmerson went into their last end with an identical score and restricted I Farrar, A Bruce, J Bone and P Reeves to one shot for an 18-17 victory. The finals of all competitions will be at Bert Keech on Sunday, September 5.

Pairs semi-finals: Sunday, August 15 at West Park, start 2pm: P Reeves v K Nelson, K Ryder v D Dale.

Singles semi-finals: Tuesday, August 24 at 6.15pm (at Clarence Gardens) S Gill/M Foster v R Tiplady/T Stephens, J Dalby/A Dunbar v J Emmerson/T Quainton, A Cook/T Niccol v G Storey, D Preece/P Witherwick v H Whenham/J Stroughair.

Name game christening

Teams will be looking to live up to their bold billing in the opening matches of the new York Super Sevens League, which starts next week.

Such has been the interest that teams have devised a hit-list of catchy identities.

The first ties are: Monday, August 16: Osbaldwick Outlaws v Bootham Braves (at Glen Gardens); Railway Institute Cougars v Railway Institute Dragons (Falconer Street); Friday, August 20: Bootham Braves v Haxby Road Rockets (Glarence Gardens). All games start at 6.30 pm.

Updated: 08:31 Thursday, August 12, 2004