YORK have clinched a place in the Yorkshire League finals for the third successive year after beating nearest rivals Hull 73-56 in Group B.

They will now meet Group 'A' winners Huddersfield.

York went into the Hull game with a four and a half point advantage and applied the pressure, David Stroughair, Mal Harrison, Dudley Williams and Doug Mitchell winning 19-14 at home.

In the other home rink, Iain Boyle, Michael Bruce, Ted Boyle and Frank Turner trailed for much of a close game up to the 19th only to win 21-14.

At Hull, Paul Mooring, Graham Brooke, Phil Parsons and Graham Instone built up a 13-3 lead after ten ends but then the home side came back winning five consecutive ends. A five to Mooring sealed a 21-15 win.

John Emmerson, Dave Hewick, Barry Walker and John Walker were edged out 13-12.

Inconsistent New Earswick hammered Harrogate 109-46 to pick up the maximum 12 points.

Bill Waldie, Paul Dawson, Mick Stannard and John Allan produced a storming finish to win the last four ends for a 32-15 home win.

Bob Edwards, Bob Howland, Anthony Scruton and Tony Taylor were in devastating form as they opened up a 20-1 lead after only nine ends en route to a 29-11 success.

Brian Gray, Kevin Fori, Ken Plowman, Ken Lippett had a fight on their hands at Harrogate early on but won 11 successive ends for a 27-7 victory. Ray Clark, John Snowden, Ralph Tiplady and Stephen Long completed the clean sweep by winning 21-13.

New Earswick Ladies narrowly missed out on a place in the North East League final.

Despite beating York, who were also in with a chance of making the final, the last place was snatched by Selby to take top spot from Earswick.

Brenda Keller, Lys Jerrum, Barbara Brigham and Dot Kay (New Earswick) dropped a six on the first end against Clarice Johnston, Sylvia Walker, Ella Armitt and Anne Sharpley then won all but six of the remaining ends to record an a 28-16 win.

Joyce Gee, Doreen Arnett, Pat Ellis and Ida West were York's only success as they coasted to a 31-13 victory against Margaret Moss, Kath Sykes, Audrey Shingles and Ann Thompson.

At Huntington Road, Maureen Wood, Pat Walker, Maureen Shorrocks and June Barker beat York's Pat Bracken, Marilyn Andrews, Madge Dunn and Ann Fowler 24-18. In the other rink Peg Walker, Diane Hardy, Margaret Matthews and Margaret Blows (New Earswick) were beating Cath Blease, Jean Williams, Liz Worling and Norma Reed 12-5 after nine ends.

Then York levelled the scores before Earswick pulled away again to win 20-18.

New Earswick IBC paved the way for an exciting finish to the Yorkshire Over 55s League as they brushed aside Doncaster 120-46.

They picked up maximum points to move within two-and-a-half points of leaders York.

Both teams have one game to play to decide who wins the group and meets Hornsea in the final.

Ken Harrison, Alf Lewis, Alan Spencer and John Allan had a convincing 38-7 win, Bob Edwards, Barry Harrison, Mick Stannard and Joe Cooper were involved in a tight game before coming out on top, 23-10.

At Doncaster, Bob Howland, Ken Plowman, Ron Wood and Harry Rhodes were in full control of their game, especially after they had scored a seven to lead 18-9 after nine ends, finishing up 34-14 victors.

Ray Clark, Colin Fawcett, Dave Sykes and Ray Bowman also took a welcome early lead which they extended to 18-5 after 12 ends and eventually won 25-15.

New Earswick's last game is against Thornaby next week, while York face Ryedale tomorrow.

New Earswick's Ray Clark, Kevin Fort and Mick Farmery will play Thornaby in the final of the Evans Property Group York-shire Knockout competition.

They beat their Huddersfield opponents 17-15 in the semi-final at Ryedale IBC.

In the fours, John Snowden, Dave Sykes, Dave Thompson and Tony Taylor (New Earswick) were losing 10-8 to Saltburn but scored a six followed by a two to lead 16-10 and eventually triumphed 20-17.

They will now play Selby's R Gilyeat, D Gath, M Patrick and M Mansell, 26-24 semi-final victors over North Cave, in the final.

There was disappointment for New Earswick's Gary Bunce who lost 21-9 to Featherstone in the singles.

York's John and David Stroughair only dropped six ends as they won easily 21-9 against Selby's P Lund and A Patrick in the pairs and will now play Hornsea who beat Hull 20-16.

The finals are to take place at New Earswick on Sunday, March 17 (1.30pm).

Updated: 12:31 Thursday, March 07, 2002