THE York Amateur Bowls Association season has got underway with a new revised format of two divisions.

In division one, 2016 champions RI Amateurs got off to a winning start with a 6-2 victory over Haxby Road.

Three rinks were close. Bill Waldie and John Stroughair were level after 16 ends. Waldie picked up a two on the 17th but Stroughair won it with a four on the last to win by two shots.

Michael Bruce prevailed over Gary Bunce and Paul Humphreys saw off Malcolm Lewers in other tight games, while Tony Cox had a comfortable win over Geoff Dobbin.

However, in their next outing, Amateurs suffered a heavy 7-1 defeat at Ashton Lane to a strong Holgate WMC side.

Alan Smith, Steve Lea and Peter Jackson’s rinks beat those of Humphreys, Bruce and Tony Horobin respectively. Waldie gained RI's point with a win over Gary Lewington.

Neighbours RI Corinthians beat an understrength Shipton side 6-2, but they lost 7-1 to Bootham at Clarence Gardens.

Bootham had also enjoyed a 6.5-1.5 win over fellow promoted side Clifton in a fine start to the campaign.

Last season’s division two champions, Rowntree, had a close-fought contest at Dunnington, the hosts edging the aggregate score 64-63 to come out with a 5-3 victory.

Dringhouses entertained Selby at the racecourse ground and the visitors got their campaign off to a strong start with a 7-1 victory.

Haxby Road recovered from their opening-day defeat with a 6.5-1.5 win at Rowntree.

Selby had a difficult game with Dunnington but came out 6-2 victors, while Dringhouses won 7-1 at Shipton.

Division two sees a number of teams promoted from the old division three.

Joint-champions Copmanthorpe got off to a strong start with a 6.5-1.5 win over Stamford Bridge.

Harrogate had a 7-1 victory over Scarcroft, while Hull Road Park won 6.5-1.5 at West Park.

Minster and Poppleton met at Clarence Gardens with the hosts winning 6-2, while Osbaldwick had a relatively close battle with Retreat before coming out on top 69-56 on shots for a 6-2 win.

Joint-division three champions Poppleton Road WMC then got their campaign off to a winning start with a 6-2 victory over Osbaldwick at Glen Gardens.

Poppleton suffered their second defeat against Retreat, 7-1, as did Scarcroft, 6.5-1.5 to Minster. Stamford Bridge picked up maximum points against Harrogate with an 8-0 whitewash.

Meanwhile, in the York C&IU Evening League, 2016 champions Holgate and runners-up Clarence are the early pace-setters in the new season after they both won their first two games to head the league table with 14 points apiece.

Tramways, with a draw in their second game against Burton Lane, are also unbeaten in third place.

South Bank, having shared the aggregate score with Poppleton Road, were only one shot away from winning their first match.