RI AMATEURS and Selby both kept tabs on Holgate WMC at the top of the York Amateur Bowling Association division one thanks to convincing 7-1 wins - though Amateurs fluffed their next chance to close the gap.

RI Amateurs last week saw off neighbours RI Corinthians at Ashton Lane, while Selby beat Bootham.

Leaders Holgate WMC stayed ahead, beating Dringhouses 6-2.

Dunnington suffered a second heavy defeat in a row, this time 7-1 at Haxby Road. Rowntree had no such troubles in overcoming Clifton 6-2.

The latest round of fixtures gave RI Amateurs the opportunity to close the gap at the top even more with both Holgate WMC and Selby’s games being postponed.

However, a surprise was in store at the racecourse ground as Dringhouses enjoyed a convincing 82-57¾ aggregate win to record a 7.5-0.5 victory.

RI Corinthians entertained Rowntree and in a close encounter came out with a 6-2 win, scraping through by just one shot in the aggregate score.

Poppleton continued their good form in division two with a convincing 7-1 victory over West Park, followed by a 6-2 win at Copmanthorpe.

Cop had also suffered a 6.5-1.5 defeat to Osbaldwick - back-to-back defeats following a good win last time out.

Mid-table Poppleton Road WMC beat Harrogate 6.5-1.5, while Retreat overcame Minster 7-1.

Scarcroft had a tight affair with visitors Hull Road Park - they won 7-1 but Hull Road only lost out by 2.25 shots in the aggregate score.

Hull Road Park got better reward at home to Stamford Bridge, winning 6-2.

West Park's slump continued with a 6-2 home defeat to Scarcroft.

Harrogate recovered from defeat to beat Osbaldwick 7-1 with Poppleton Road WMC winning by a similar scoreline at Minster.

Meanwhile, the position at the top of the York C&IU Evening League table remains unchanged with Holgate, Clarence and Railway Institute all winning their games.

At the bottom, South Bank recorded their first win of the season, taking advantage of fellow strugglers Burton Lane having only 10 players.

The disadvantage did not unduly affect Burton skip Dave Beavers, whose rink overwhelmed Allan May's rink and won by 12.25 shots despite losing a quarter of their score.

However, South Bank overturned this deficit as Mal Dewhirst's rink won by 16 shots against Dave's brother Russell Beavers.

It still looked as though Burton Lane would win the game as Graham Whattam's rink, playing a man short, were leading at the 15th end, despite losing a quarter of their score. But John Snowden's South Bank rink won the last three ends, scoring eight shots in the process, to snatch their teams first victory of the season.

Meanwhile, all the first round ties in the Evening League Knock-out Cup were postponed due to heavy rain.

Tramways were meeting Burton Lane this week, likewise Acomb and Poppleton. The ties between South Bank and Railway Institute, and Clarence and Holgate will be on June 27, with the the semi-finals put back to July 4.

The Afternoon League got under way with victories for Railway Institute 2, Burton Lane 2 and St Clements 'B'.