Bowls: Yorkshire League lead ceded after rivals beaten (From York Press)

Bowls: Yorkshire League lead ceded after rivals beaten

10:57am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Bowls

YORK Indoor Bowls Club relinquished top spot in Yorkshire League division one despite collecting 12 points from a 91-79 success over Huddersfield.

The Thanet Roaders were replaced at the summit by Featherstone, who had picked up the maximum points haul against the same opponents earlier in the season.

David Stroughair’s home rink led the way for York.

After dropping a three on the first end, they led 16-5 after eight ends then 35-13 before succumbing to a single then a four when the match was already won.

Paul Humphreys’ team struggled to get into a rhythm and a draw looked to be on the cards as the visitors picked up a single on the penultimate end to make the score 20-19, but a single to the home side gave them a valuable 21-19 victory.

The away rinks looked as though they were going to be on for a big loss as both teams were out of luck.

Phil Emmerson’s trailed 17-7 after 13 ends and Adam Liddell’s 18-7 after 15.

However, they came back well as Emmerson won the last three ends to go down 20-17, while Liddell seized four of the last six to only go down 22-18.

Featherstone beat Thornaby 110-60, picking up maximum return to take pole position by four points.

New Earswick need a miracle to escape relegation after a 88-67 defeat to Selby, who move up to third place courtesy of their 16 points to two return.

At Huntington Road, Barry Johnson’s team came from 7-3 down to pip Roger Wood’s side 23-18.

Trevor Quainton’s side pulled away from Barry Harrison’s rink. After the scores were tied at 7-7 with eight ends gone, the visitors went on to win 22-13.

In Selby, Eddie Howcroft’s rink led 20-0 after 11 ends before Brian Gray’s team got on the board with a single on the next.

Gray’s team had the better of the run-in but the damage had already been done as the game finished 23-16.

Paul Dawson’s side led 10-7 after eight ends before Ian Robb’s team stepped up a gear to win all four ends to finish 25-15 victors.

Selby have virtually sealed their place in division one, needing 14 points from their two remaining games to make certain.

New Earswick, meanwhile, need maximum points and Scarborough and Huddersfield to have a disastrous finish to stay up.