VICTORIES over Burnholme and Hull Road Park allowed Haxby Road to keep in touch with Holgate, undefeated leaders of the York Bowling Association Persimmon Homes/Ideal Standard League.

Haxby Road's win over Hull Road Park was only completed on the last end and made possible by seven shots scored by David Stroughair's rink on the 20th end. Haxby Road trailed by nine shots with only five ends to play and that score turned a 6-2 defeat into a 7-1 victory.

It was the third time that Hull Road Park had lost on the last end bowled and leaves them in the relegation zone with Stamford Bridge, Burnholme and Ainsty, who moved off the bottom with a 6-2 win at home to Bert Keech.

Bootham's 6-2 defeat at Dunnington has left Poppleton and Copmanthorpe clear leaders of division two.

Poppleton finished last season with four wins from five matches and their good start has stretched the sequence to eight wins out of ten.

Four wins out of four for Heworth Cons and Stewart have given them a four-point lead over Vickers in division three. However, University are undefeated with a game in hand.

Club and Institute Knockout Cup preliminary round: St Clements v Tang Hall, Tramways v Clarence and Railway Institute v South Bank. Matches to be played on Tuesday, May 28. The format is the same as for league games, three rinks of four.

Updated: 11:40 Thursday, May 23, 2002