RI CORINTHIANS had the edge at the end as they beat Selby 81-69 to lift the York Amateur Bowls Association's Williamson Cup.

A downpour an hour before the start left the green at Dunnington very damp, and it was Selby who adapted quicker - but RI who finished the stronger.

For Selby, Tony Longfield led Mal Bulmer 14-10 after 15 ends, and Peter Lund led Tony Thornton 19-9.

For the Corinthians, though, Tex Stevens had control of his game against Trevor Quinton 19-7, and Andy Brookes headed John Phillips 14-12.

This made the overall match score 52-52, and it was still close at 18 ends with Corinthians sneaking 66-61 ahead.

Longfield had maintained his lead over Bulmer to 17-13, and Lund was likewise 22-11 ahead. But Stevens had extended his lead for RI to 23-7, while Brookes was winning 19-15.

The final score swung Corinthians' way, though, thanks to Bulmer blasting back with 13 shots in the last four ends to win his rink 23-17, while Stevens finished 27-7 to the good.

The Freedom & Fellowship Cup final held at RI was even closer - Rowntree edging Dringhouses by a single shot.

The contest ebbed and flowed. Rowntree had control but Dringhouses managed to get the game all-square with one rink to go - only for Rowntree to get the vital shot and win 76-75.

Meanwhile, division one leaders Holgate WMC won 7-1 at Clifton to sustain their advantage. Clifton put up a great fight early on only for Holgate’s strength to shine through.

RI Corinthians, buoyed by their cup success, beat Haxby Road 6-2 - albeit pipping them only by one shot overall.

RI Amateurs, despite being three players short, overturned Bootham 7-1.

Dunnington continued their recent good form with a 7-1 victory over Dringhouses, while Rowntree beat Shipton 6-2.

Division two leaders Hull Road Park suffered only their third defeat of term - losing 7-1 to Osbaldwick.

Poppleton Road WMC closed in with a 7-1 victory over West Park.

Copmanthorpe beat Retreat 5.5-2.5, while Stamford Bridge had a comfortable 6-2 win over Poppleton. Harrogate's match against Minster was postponed.

Meanwhile, Railway Institute were the big movers in the York C&IU Evening League as they whitewashed Burton Lane on their own turf.

This result, coupled with Clarence having a free week and Holgate's game being called off due to bad weather, saw RI go top on 85 points, seven ahead of their two nearest rivals. Holgate, though, have two games in hand and Clarence one.

Railway Institute went top of the Afternoon League, too, after winning their rearranged match against Acomb 'A'. The two Holgate sides are tied in second place, two points behind.

Gary Bunce (Clarence) will look to maintain his hold on the C&IU's Singles Trophy by winning it for a fourth successive occasion when he meets Colin King (RI) in the final. King reached the final at the first attempt.

Last year's winners of the Four Wods Pairs, Holgate's Pete Jackson and Alan Phillips, will meet either John Crowe and Chris Lea (Holgate) or Chris Harris and Tony Butterfield (RI) in this year's final.

Holgate's Steve Lea and Brian Birch will also be looking to retain the Veterans' Pairs Cup when they play South Bank pair Allan May and Mal Dewhirst.