YORK Indoor Bowls Club were knocked out out of the EIBA Over-60s Double Rinks competition at the last-32 stage by an agonising 30-29 defeat to Stanley.

At home, Alan Vowles, Mick Cooney, Tony Horobin and Dave Stroughair did well to come from 8-3 down after six ends to lead 18-12, but dropped singles on the last couple of ends reduced the win to 18-14.

The away side of John Whiteley, Phil Parsons, Malcolm Lewars and Jeff Normanton led 4-2 after five ends but, after 10, they trailed 10-5. They finished 16-11 down.

York's popular New Year's Eve Pairs competition proved a success again as 18 teams started out to finish 2019 with glory.

The teams played three matches, with the top four teams going into the semi-finals and places five to eight into the Plate competition.

The top four teams all finished with maximum points with Brenda Love and Pat Potter leading the way on shots difference. They beat fourth-placed Rose Haynes and Paul Milliner 8-6 in the semi-final after an extra end.

Second-placed Jen Brown and Phil Parsons beat Steve Pattison and Alan Braithwaite 8-2.

The final was evenly poised at 2-2 after three ends before a four gave Love and Potter the advantage, which they made the most of to beat Brown and Parsons 8-4 and finish the day unbeaten.

The Plate semi-finals proved surprisingly one-sided as fifth-placed Bill Clargo and Pat Berwick cruised into the final with a 12-3 win, while Sam Watson and Dave Clarke joined them with a 13-1 win.

In an exciting final, Watson and Clarke led 8-4 only for Clargo and Berwick to pull back to 8-8 - but Berwick missed the jack in the extra end so Watson - in his debut year - and Dave Clarke took the Plate 9-8.

Entries for the Easter Pairs competition, which is run on the same basis, are nearly full.

York Vikings complete their Yorkshire Over 55s League division one game at noon tomorrow at home to Selby. This weekend, York IBC hosts the Short Mat Bowls British Open. Games start at 9am on both Saturday and Sunday and are expected to finish around 8.30pm.