YORK Indoor Bowls Club kept alive their hopes of beating the drop in Yorkshire League division one with a shock 79-73 win over leaders North Cave 79-73.

It almost mirrored their previous match as they won the last five ends of the game to come from 73-71 down to take the honours and ten points in all.

The first rink to finish was at North Cave, where Dudley Williams, Andy Humphreys, Tex Stevens and Craig Newton led 8-7 after eight ends but thereafter only won three more ends and lost 29-13.

At home, Nigel Macdonald, Neal Macdonald, Graham Brooke and Paul Mooring trailed 19-0 after 12 ends but, crucially for the aggregate score, they won seven out of the remaining nine ends and picked up a four at the last to go down 21-11.

Next to complete their game were Graham Instone, John Crowe, Pete Jackson and Dave Stroughair, who put in an excellent performance.

They won eight of the opening 11 ends to lead 16-4 en route to a 25-14 victory.

Last to finish were Malcolm Harrison, Eric Hodgson, Stuart Smith and Phil Parsons who also shone - losing only six ends throughout and winning their last six to finish 30-9 victors.

If York beat Scarborough in their next match, a week on Saturday, and New Earswick beat bottom club Redcar, then the Thanet Road outfit should secure their division one status for next season.

York 'B's hopes of staying in division two took a massive blow, though, as they drew a blank in crashing 94-58 to Doncaster.

The Dons picked up all 14 points to move within one of their opponents with an easier final game to come.

It looked like York 'B' would get something out of the game as the home rink of Harley Wenham, Pete Grosvenor, David White and Geoff Walker drew level at 15-15 after scoring a four then a single.

However, they dropped a two on the last to lose 18-16.

In Doncaster, Noel Mallen, John Butler, Gordon Fennell had come from 12-3 down to level at 14-14 and with four ends to play were only 16-15 behind, but they lost 25-16.

Wally Darbyshire, Barry Walker, Ken Simpson and Tony Hopcutt also came back well as they pulled back from 17-7 down to 18-17 with two ends to go but they lost both to fall 22-17.

Charlie Arnett, Gordon Walker, Jim Robertson and Tony Bryan lost 29-9.

York 'B's last game is against promotion-chasing Leeds a week on Saturday.

Tomorrow, York play their last-32 tie in the Mason Trophy against Ferryhill, starting home and away at 11am.

On Saturday, York will look to get back to winning ways in the North Eastern League as they face Harrogate at noon.

On Sunday, York & District IBC host the County Singles and Senior Singles qualifying competitions starting at 9.30am. Then at 1pm, two upcoming stars - North Cave's Liam Creaser and Scarborough's Alexander Richards - meet in the National Under-18s Area Final, and, at 6.30pm, another National Area Final takes place as Hornsea's Carl Stoakes plays Featherstone's Mark Hughes in the Pairs.

Next Wednesday at noon, at New Earswick IBC, York's Phil Parsons faces Harrogate's Dave Spilsbury in the National Over-60s Pairs Area Final.