A STUNNING finale saw the Barbican rink of Keith Ryder, Peter Durkin and Gordon Walker steal victory over Hull Road's Barry Walker, Colin Haigh and Geoff Walker in the final of the York Veterans' Bowls Triples competition.

In a ding-dong match at the Retreat, Barbican took an early 6-3 lead but Hull Road won the next four ends to lead 8-6 after eight.

Barbican then scored a four but Hull Road answered with a three to hold an 11-10 lead after 10.

The scores were tied at 12-12 and 13-13 going in the last four ends.

Barbican scored a two but Hull Road scored a one and a three to take a 17-15 lead into the last end - in which the shot changed hands several times before Barbican finished with a three to win 18-17.

Barbican and Hull Road had previously won their semi-finals at the Retreat - Barbican's home green - against Dunnington and Dringhouses respectively.

Barbican were always on top against Dunnington and led Harvey Jones, Dave Kermode and Dick Osguthorpe 11-5 after nine ends before picking up 10 shots over the next five to increase the lead to 21-5.

Dunnington picked up a couple of twos but conceded at 21-9 behind with two ends of the 18 game to play.

The second semi-final was much closer.

Dringhouses' rink of George Tuxford, Geoff Symons and Mal Thompson took an early 5-0 lead but Hull Road scored a four, a three and two singles to go 9-6 up after eight and went on to increase the lead to 13-8 after 12.

The Dringy trio won the next three to level the scores with three ends to go, but Hull Road won two of them for a 16-14 victory.