YORK Indoor Bowls Club’s first team have the Yorkshire League division one title in sight after beating relegation-threatened Thornaby 100-55.

With closest rivals North Cave having completed their fixtures, York need a win and a draw from their two home rinks against Scarborough on Saturday to secure the crown. The game starts at noon.

Three York rinks were victorious against Thornaby.

At home, the impressive John Dudding, John Earnshaw, Neal Macdonald and Paul Mooring won 32-12, while Malcolm Lewars, Malcolm Harrison, Kieran Earnshaw and Tony Horobin were pegged back to 13-11 but pulled away again to win 20-13.

Away, the excellent Phil Parsons, Jack Woodworth, John Crowe and Dave Stroughair only lost three ends in a 25-6 success.

Stuart Smith, Graham Instone, Graham Brooke and Jeff Normanton nearly pulled off a comeback from 19-9 down but lost 24-23.

New Earswick ‘A’ missed out on promotion from division two after losing 75-65 to Leeds, picking up only two points.

Earswick ended third, only two points behind top team Leeds.

At home, Bob Elliott, Dave Kermode, Andrew Fothergill and Kevin Liddell scored an early six and five but, having led 16-8 after 14 ends, lost 18-17. They got so close despite winning only seven of the 21 ends.

Dave Imeson, Rod Walker, Ralph Tiplady and Bill Waldie won only three of the first 12 ends yet only trailed 13-11. They lost 20-15.

At Leeds, Gary Stockton, Dave Sykes Mick Head and Tony Abbot were tied at 12-12 after a topsy-turvy first half but lost 25-17.

John Harrison, Colin Ellis, Gary Jones and Colin Pickup had the better of the last five ends to win 16-12, but their victory was not enough.

York ‘B’ finished fourth, one point behind Earswick, after beating North Cave ‘B 95-58.

At home, Allen Clapham, Alan Smith, Ray Calpin and Malcolm Thompson enjoyed a 31-6 victory.

However, Harley Wenham, Ken Robinson, David White and Geoff Walker, despite a six on the last end, lost 21-17.

Away, Colin Robinson, Ken Simpson, Gordon Fennell and Mal Bulmer led from the start in a 25-13 win.

Ken Griffiths, Bill Flavell, Alan Hampshire and Tex Stevens were pegged back to 17-16 but held their nerve to win 23-18.

In division three, York ‘C’ had to take 10 points against Doncaster ‘B’ to secure a place in the end-of-season Hebden Challenge Cup and did so with a 73-67 victory.

At home, Pete Waring, Mal Rankeillor, Paul Craven and Ray Clark built a 14-4 lead by the eighth end and this proved important in a 23-16 victory.

Charlie Arnett, Steve Lea, Dave Preece and Mike Snowden, with a three then a six, led 13-6 after eight ends but lost 22-19.

In Doncaster, Wally Darbyshire, Barry Walker, Gordon Walker and Tony Bryan edged a tight tussle 16-14.

Andy Lockwood, Noel Mallen, Jack Parsons and Jim Robertson were level at 9-9 but could not recover from a dropped four then two and lost 19-15.

Also through to the Challenge Cup are Leeds ‘B’, Selby ‘B’ and New Earswick ‘B’.

Earswick ended their season with a 94-68 win over Hornsea, collecting 11 points.

Joe Barker, Dave Toms, Bob Barrett and Eric Cookson trailed 13-1 after five ends and, despite slashing the gap, went on to lose 24-18.

However, Brian Birch, Brian Hutton Terry Bellwood and Dick Osguthorpe started with a four, a five and a seven and stormed to a 36-12 victory.

At Leeds, Bill Nuckey, Dave Hutchinson, Vic Thompson and Kevin Potter dropped a three at the last end to draw 17-17, but Alwyn Anderson, Steve Hudson, John Snowdon and Brian Gray eased ahead to win 23-15.