YORK Indoor Bowls Club are on course for a title decider with Featherstone in division one of the Yorkshire League.

The Thanet Road club needed to beat Thornaby to maintain their challenge and they edged it 78-77, despite trailing 77-67 at one stage.

York picked up 12 points from the game and are second in the league, seven points adrift with two games to play.

Featherstone and York collide on March 5 at 10am.

The championship bid looked to be over when the aggregate score stood at 77-67.

Both home rinks were getting beaten, with Paul Mooring’s side losing 23-12 and Phil Emmerson’s trailing 24-12.

The only shining light was away from home, with Mark Clarke winning 24-11 after taking the last six ends, scoring nine shots.

Paul Humphreys’ team were level at 19-19 with two ends to play after dropping five shots over the previous two ends.

Things turned York’s way when Mooring’s team picked up a three to lose 23-15 and news came through that Humphreys had picked up a three.

Then Emmerson got a four on his last end to lose 24-16, leaving the scores tied at 77-77 with only Humphreys’ team to finish.

Third wood John Walker laid the winner and maintained Humphreys’ successful away record with a 23-19 victory.

In division two, New Earswick’s promotion hopes were raised when they beat second-placed Doncaster 86-76, picking up 14 points and closing the gap to two points with two games to play.

At home, Barry Harrison’s team led 13-1 after eight ends en route to a 24-13 victory.

Bob Edwards’ team led 23-16 with two ends to play but were stunned by a seven, then a three, to lose 26-23.

Away, Barry Johnson’s team came from 17-13 down to win 21-18, though Ralph Tiplady’s team went from 17-12 down to 18-18, only to drop a single and lose the game.

New Earswick’s next game is against Ryedale, while Doncaster face league leaders North Cave.