SELBY won the battle of the top two to reach the final of the York Amateur Bowls Association's Williamson Cup.

They took on division one leaders Holgate WMC and prevailed 75-67 after a close-fought contest.

Selby will meet RI Corinthians in the final, the latter having seen off up division two leaders Hull Road Park, who were seeking another shock after their conquest of division one outfit Haxby Road in the last eight.

In the Freedom and Fellowship Cup semi-finals, division one outfit Rowntree had to work to overcome division two Poppleton 76-64, likewise Dringhouses as they beat Copmanthorpe 84-70.

Holgate WMC bounced back in the league as they extended their lead at the top by half a point with a 6.5-1.5 victory over Bootham while second-placed Selby were defeating Rowntree 6-2 - that result not reflecting the tight 69-68 aggregate scoreline.

RI Corinthians had a good 6-2 win at Dunnington while RI Amateurs, despite being a player short, overcame bottom side Shipton 7-1 at Ashton Lane.

Haxby Road's game with Clifton was postponed.

The top two in division two clashed at West Park with leaders Hull Road Park prevailing 7-1 over Poppleton Road WMC to move 13 points clear .

Poppleton took advantage of the Poppy Road's loss to leapfrog them into second place with a 7.5-0.5 win over Scarcroft.

West Park lost 6-2 to second-bottom Retreat, while Osbaldwick saw off Stamford Bridge 7-1 at Glen Gardens.

Meanwhile, Holgate joined Clarence at the top of the York C&IU Evening League, with a game in hand, after beating them 5-3 in a close encounter which went down to the very last wood.

Holgate secured two points as John Crowe's rink enjoyed a five-shot victory over Gary Bunce, but Geoff Dobbin's rink led from the start against Pete Jackson and on by seven shots to even things up.

The drama, though, came in the last rink to finish.

Paul Dawson looked to be giving Clarence overall victory when they held four shots on the 17th end, but Steve Lea, with a perfectly weighted wood, trailed the jack to score a shot.

Then on the last end, with Clarence again holding four shots, Lea again saved Holgate when he sliced the jack to score again - giving give his rink a two-shot advantage and levelling the aggregate score.

Paul Dawson just failed to draw the winner with his last wood, which would have tied the match.

Railway Institute are hard on the leaders' heels, just one point adrift after their 6- 2 win over St Clement's.

In the Afternoon League, Holgate 'A' defeated Acomb 'B' to remain unbeaten and share the lead at the head of the table with Railway Institute, who have played one game more.

Meanwhile, the finals of the Heineken UK Ltd-sponsored John Smith's Triples competitions will take place at the Railway Institute Green, Ashton Lane, on Tuesday, August 1, starting at 6.45pm.

Holgate 'B' will meet Railway institute 'A' for the Cup, after beating Clarence 'B' and Holgate 'A' respectively in the semi-finals.

Acomb will take on Tramways for the Plate. The former were given a walkover by St Clement's 'A' while the latter saw off RI 'C'.