New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club are favourites to win the Yorkshire Over-55s League division two after they beat second-placed Selby 98-73.

That gave them 16 points to go 19 points clear at the top with two games against teams at the bottom of the table still to play.

At home, Bob Edwards side pulled away between the fourth and 12th ends, where they led 19-7, to secure a 29-15 victory against John Harrand’s side.

Barry Johnson’s team trailed Tex Stevens’ side 13-9 after 11 ends but by the 18th they went in front 24-14. Stevens’ rink made a good comeback but it wasn’t enough as the home side won 24-20.

In Selby, Ralph Tiplady’s rink had an 18-17 advantage over Brian Smith’s side before winning the last four ends to triumph 26-17.

Selby’s lone success came from Les Crabb’s team. They led 19-13 with six ends to play before Barry Harrison’s side came back to only go down 21-19.

New Earswick’s next fixture is against Doncaster next Wednesday starting at 12.30pm.

Meanwhile, New Earswick pulled off a shock in the Yorkshire Double Rinks qualifying game as they beat first division Harrogate 36-24.

At home, Barry Johnson’s team were in excellent form as they pulled away from a 9-6 advantage after ten ends to wrap up the game 24-7.

In Harrogate, Paul Dawson’s team only dropped two shots over the last six ends to go from 15-7 down and only lose 17-12.

Selby proved how much they have improved over the last few years by thrashing York 48-30.

Currently second in the first division, they won the game with the rink at Thanet Road as John Phillips’ side moved from 7-5 ahead after eight ends to 25-5 six ends later.

Phil Emmerson’s team picked up a four, then a two, but thoughts of a comeback were short-lived as the visitors pulled away again to finish 30-12 when York conceded with one end scheduled still to be played.

The game in Selby was much closer as Graham Brooke and Barry Roberts fought out an 18-18 draw.