HOLGATE marched towards a York Amateur Bowling Association League and Cup double in their centenary year by beating RI Amateurs 84-53 in the Williamson Cup final.

They took control early in the final, with the rinks of Phil Emmerson and Tex Stevens pulling away from Bill Waldie and Paul Humphreys, easing out to comfortable half way leads.

By the time the game came to an early close, Emmerson had won 23-11, while Stevens had eased to a 34-10 victory.

Tony Horobin had a tight tussle with Danny May’s rink, finally winning 14-12.

RI Amateurs' only success came in the form of Paul Mooring’s rink, who won in vain against Pete Jackson 20-13, as Holgate regained the trophy they last won in 2007.

In the Freedom & Fellowship Cup final, the result went to form with division one Selby beating division three Poppleton 94-59.

Poppleton led by seven shots at one stage and they still held a one shot advantage at the half way stage.

The second half of the game went away from them, however, as the rinks of Tony Longfield and Pete Lund won comfortably to ease Selby to a fine win.

In division one of the league, Holgate put one hand on the championship trophy when they beat Haxby Road 8-0, while nearest rivals Holgate WMC suffered a surprise 7-1 home defeat at the hands of Hull Road Park.

Strugglers Dringhouses suffered a heavy 8-0 loss at Selby, while RI Amateurs defeated relegated Rowntree 7-1.

Division two leaders Wigginton enjoyed a tremendous week, with two wins ensuring back to back promotions for a club that only joined the YABA last season.

They beat second-placed RI Corinthians 6-2 before rounding off their week with a 7-1 beating of West Park.

Bootham moved into third with a 7-1 home win over Harrogate, while Shipton’s promotion hopes were dented by a 7-1 loss at Burnholme, who moved off the bottom.

The promotion race in division three has got even tighter.

Leaders Scarcroft lost for the first time in ten games, going down 7-1 at Copmanthorpe.

Copmanthorpe moved into third as previously Poppleton Road WMC suffered a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Retreat.

Osbaldwick were 6.5-1.5 winners at Stamford Bridge and 7-1 victors at University to leapfrog into second place.

A mere 1.5 points now separates the top four with only a few games to play.

Bottom club University won their second game of the season, beating Minster 6.5-1.5 at home.

* GRAHAM BELL is closing in on a repeat knockout triumph in the York C&IU Bowls Heineken UK-sponsored John Smith's Triples Cup.

Bell was a member of last year's cup-winning team from Tramways and has reached this year's final with his new club, Holgate.

They beat Gary Bunce's Clarence 'A' team 17-13 in the semi-finals.

Their opponents will be Clarence 'C', led by Vic Thompson.

In the Plate competition, Kev Butler's Burton Lane 'B', winners of the trophy in 2012, reached the final by winning against P Waddington's Huntington 'A' outfit.

They will meet Huntington 'C' in the final after they won their semi-final by one shot against Poppleton Road 'A'.

The finals will be played at the Railway Institute green in Ashton Lane on Tuesday, at 6.45pm.

Evening League leaders Clarence were held to a 4-4 draw by Holgate, while second-placed Burton Lane just managed to win against bottom club South Bank, who lost the aggregate by two shots.

South Bank won their game in hand to go two points clear at the top of the Afternoon League table after beating third-placed Burton Lane 'A' 12-11.