LEADERS Selby put the brakes on RI Amateurs’ climb up the division one table with a 7-1 away win in the York Amateur Bowling Association League.

The top three sides – Selby, Dunnington and Holgate WMC – all won to maintain the status quo at the half-way point of the campaign.

Dunnington are now second after a 7-1 win at Stewart, who remain bottom, while Holgate WMC slipped a place to third but stayed firmly in contention with a 6-2 win at struggling Rowntree.

Haxby Road made it three wins in a row with a convincing 7-1 defeat of Hull Road Park on their own green, while Holgate beat RI Corinthians 7-1 at home.

In division two, the merry-go-round continued with Shipton the latest team to lead the table following an emphatic 8-0 home win over fellow promotion hopefuls Dringhouses.

Clifton had a good 7-1 home win over previous leaders West Park, and Bootham kept themselves in contention with a 7-1 triumph at winless Poppleton Road WMC.

Osbaldwick took full advantage of Wigginton’s free week in division three, winning 8-0 at home to University to go top.

The latest round of the YABA fours competition will be played at Clarence Gardens and The Retreat tomorrow, at 6.45pm.

The pairs will be played on Sunday, at 2pm, at The Retreat and West Park.

Meanwhile, a second defeat of the season for Clarence allowed Holgate to draw level at the top of the York C&IU Bowls Evening League.

As Clarence went down 6-2 at St Clement’s, Holgate picked up their seventh win by trouncing Huntington 8-0.

St Clement’s, who have a game in hand, are also in contention after their third successive win.

Burton Lane are now only five points adrift of the leaders with a game in hand.

Railway Institute are still unbeaten and head the Afternoon League table, with Burton Lane ‘A’ their latest victims.

South Bank took advantage of St Clement’s bye to go clear in second place after their win against Acomb ‘B’.

Bob Blackburn’s South Bank team secured a place in the first round of the Heineken UK-sponsored John Smith’s Triples Cup.

Blackburn’s side came out on top after a ding-dong battle against Kev Butler’s Burton Lane team. The match went to an extra end, with South Bank scoring the all-important shot to win the tie.

There were also preliminary round wins for Gary Bunce’s Clarence ‘A’ and Holgate ‘A’ who go into the first round on Tuesday.

The first round draw is: Burton Lane ‘A’ v St Clement’s ‘B’, Burton Lane ‘D’ v Tramways; Burton Lane ‘C’ v Huntington ‘B’; Holgate ‘C’ v Acomb ‘B’; Holgate ‘B v South Bank; Clarence ‘C;’ v Acomb ‘A’; Clarence ‘A’ v Clarence ‘B’; Holgate ‘A’ v Railway Institute.