YORK Indoor Bowls Club’s Yorkshire League title hopes slipped away as they just fell short to Scarborough, 77-73.

York, having lost the away legs in January by 30 shots, needed one winning and one drawing rink from the two contests at Thanet Road to take the title from North Cave.

They got the former as Kieran Earnshaw, Mick Cooney, Tony Horobin and Jason Parkinson took their game by storm, winning 38-6.

However, with Phil Parsons, John Dudding, Jeff Normanton and John Whiteley losing to some brilliant bowling from opposing skip Jack Bird, the draw they needed did not look on.

Parkinson's big win nevertheless gave York chance of taking the aggregate points instead, despite the 30-shot deficit from January.

It all meant Whiteley needed to get within two points of Bird.

His team fought back from 11-6 to 11-10 but Bird won four of the last six ends to finish 20-14.

York Knights ended their Yorkshire Over-55s League division two campaign with a 96-56 victory over North Cave Maroon, picking up all 14 points, to finish third in the table.

Away, Colin Robinson, Mal Rankeillor, Barry Walker and Tex Stevens won 24-10, while Doug Mitchell, Bill Carter, Allen Clapham and David White won 22-20, despite falling 14-13 behind when dropping a six.

At home, Harley Wenham, Dave Holder, Ray Calpin and Malcolm Thompson, having led 11-1, were pegged back to 13-9 but pulled away to win 24-11.

Mel Lancaster, Tony Butterfield, Ray Clark and Geoff Walker won 26-15.

York face a relegation battle in the North Eastern Ladies' League after losing 77-46 to Harrogate, winning only one rink.

Brenda Love, Eva Snarr, Kath Pepper and Maggie Pallister led 14-9 but were pegged back to 15-15 going into the last end – before coming up with the all-important shot to take the game 16-15.

However, Sheila Clargo, Jen Brown, Joan Knight and Pauline Armitage fell 22-11.

In Harrogate, Maureen Robinson, Sue Jeffrey, Jean Williams and Sheila Turpin were in the game when 9-8 down but lost 15-9, while Ann Donaldson, Bar Saville, Tina Robinson and Pat Potter lost 25-10.

York need to beat leaders Selby in their last game to stay in section ‘A’.

New Earswick Ladies, meanwhile, lost 97-63 to Leeds, with just one winning rink.

At home, Carol Thompson, Jackie Toms, Diane Hardy and Norma Davies, having been tied at 7-7, took control of their match to win 30-8.

However, Kay Hutchinson, Kath Hardcastle, Margaret Pearson and Majorie Watson, having led 13-8 with five ends to go, lost 17-14.

Their team-mates had a nightmare in Leeds, with Doramy Bellwood, Jean Cann, Margaret Morgan and Kath Sykes crashing 31-11, while Lesley Nuckey, Sue Adams, Jennie Philpott and Irene Warrington were walloped 41-8.