HOLGATE must wait to be crowned champions of division one in the York Amateur Bowling Association League.

The club are almost there despite losing 6-2 at home to Dunnington.

Nearest challengers Holgate WMC lost 7-1 at RI Amateurs before beating Rowntree 7-1 at home to keep their faint hopes alive.

At the wrong end of the table, two defeats in a week - 7-1 at fellow strugglers Haxby Road and 7-1 away to Dunnington - see Dringhouses relegated back to division two after one season.

Hull Road Park eased their relegation worries with a tremendous week, winning 6.5-1.5 at home to Selby before beating Haxby Road 6-2 in a nail-biter where only one shot separated the sides.

A run of 11 consecutive victories saw Wigginton crowned champions, sealing back to back titles in their first two years in the YABA.

They beat Harrogate 7-1 away and Clifton 7-1 at home to finish well clear.

At the bottom, Clifton continue to struggle, losing their other game 6.5-1.5 at Bootham.

Shipton secured promotion back to division one with an easy 8-0 win at Bootham.

Osbaldwick are assured of promotion to division two after a resounding 8-0 home win over Retreat and a 6-2 victory at fellow promotion chasers Poppleton Road WMC.

Poppleton Road WMC’s chances are over after they lost 7-1 at Scarcroft, who now need a win over University in their remaining match to join Osbaldwick.

Copmanthorpe moved into second place after they finished with a flourish, defeating Poppleton 7-1 at home before a 6-2 success on their travels at University.

West Park hosted the YABA singles competition with Paul Williamson and Terry Wheatley emerging as the finalists. They will meet with the trophy up for grabs on finals day, Saturday, August 16, at West Park.

In the quarter-finals, reigning champion Kevin Liddell battled past Geoff Walker 21-17, Tex Stevens lost out to Holgate team-mate Williamson 21-15, Wheatley eased through 21-8 against Ray Wynn and Tony Longfield beat Phil Emmerson 21-17 in a tremendous game.

Wheatley ousted Longfield 21-15 in the last four, while Williamson won four of the final five ends to run out a 21-19 victor over Liddell.

In the Consolation Singles, Gary Lewington beat Norman Ellis 21-3, Andy Bailey 21-9 and Holgate WMC team-mate Alan Phillips 21-11 en route to the final.

He will play the winner of Pete Waddington and Graham Patrick, who contest their semi-final on the morning of finals day.

REIGNING York C&IU Bowls singles champion Tony Thornton, of Railway Institute, will defend his title against Clarence's Gary Bunce.

The singles showpiece is one of three finals to be played at the Railway Institute green in Ashton Lane on Friday, August 15, starting at 6.30pm.

The two vets pairs semi-finals were decided by one point.

South Bank's Mick Wox and Alan Stubbs marked their debut season by earning places in the final, where they will face each other.

Wox partners club stalwart John Snowden and club captain Bob Blackburn will line up with Stubbs.

Dale Phillips and Alan Bailey, of Burton Lane, will meet John Cooper and Harry Marshall, of St Clement's, in the four woods pairs final.

Leaders South Bank missed their opportunity to become Afternoon League champions when they failed to win against St Clement's 'A'.

They will have another chance next week when they play their last game against Holgate.

Second-placed Burton Lane were held to a draw by Holgate in the Evening League, while leaders Clarence pipped Tramways 5-3 to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Third-placed Acomb were held to a draw by bottom club South Bank, who have recently been playing well against some of the top four teams.