ALMOST, but not quite was the feeling for York Indoor Bowls Club ‘B’ after coming within a whisker of upsetting the Yorkshire Over-55s League form-book.

York came tantalisingly close to beating division two title favourites Scarborough.

The away leg was played first and saw both York rinks going close but falling away towards the end.

Ron Munro’s side rallied from 16-6 down after eight ends to 19-18 down with three to play but lost all three and the game 25-18.

Ken Robinson’s side stayed close up to the 15th end when they trailed by three shots at 19-16. But then they conceded 15 shots in the run-in to lose 34-16.

With a 25-shot deficit, the home sides had a lot to do but they got stuck in early on with Alan Clapham’s side leading 14-3 after seven ends and Bob Blackburn’s 10-2 at the same stage.

Blackburn’s side finished first with a 22-12 victory and with three ends to play a shock looked to be on the cards as Clapham’s rink moved the aggregate score to 81-80.

But it wasn’t to be as they dropped a brace of twos. Then, chasing a three to level the aggregate scores on the last end, they dropped a single to finish winning 25-14 but losing the aggregate 85-81.

The six points which York ‘B’ collected from the showdown provided encouragement, however, for the rest of the term.

Gate opener

YORK IBC ‘A’ team complete their opening Yorkshire League division one fixture against Harrogate with the home leg tomorrow, starting at noon.

York ‘A’, meanwhile, start their division two campaign against Scarborough ‘B’ tomorrow, while York ‘B’ meet Hornsea ‘B’ in the third division.