NEW Earswick IBC Falcons will have to wait to secure the Yorkshire Over-55s League division two title after losing 79-68 against second-placed Thornaby.

The Falcons took on Thornaby knowing that a full 14-point victory would almost guarantee them the championship.

After picking up six point from the outing, the Falcons have 86 points to Thornaby's 76 with two games remaining.

At home, Paul Murray, Bob Elliot, Bill Waldie and Ralph Tiplady led 9-4 after seven ends on their way to an 18-15 win.

Dave Imeson, Rod Walker, Dick Osguthorpe and Mick Head got off to a slow start and lost 27-6.

At Thornaby, John Harrison, Brian Birch, Barry Johnson and Kevin Liddell were always just behind their opponents until consecutive fours at the 15th and 16th ends put them 19-13 ahead. They finished 23-18 winners.

Dave Furness, Graham Lockwood, Eric Cookson and Paul Dawson trailed 9-8 after 12 ends but went on to win 21-19.

In the O55s League, the Ospreys lost 89-66 to Hornsea Hawks.

At home, Phil Whitehead, David Crane, Dave Hutchinson and Bob Barrett recovered from 12-1 down to trail by just 16-13 but slipped to a 24-16 defeat.

Joe Barker, Stuart Moore, Stuart Scaife and Alwyn Anderson only scored four singles in the first 12 ends as they lost 25-15.

At Hornsea, Gordon Johnson, Barrie Shipley, Ian Carr and Alan Shearer lost 21-12.

Gordon Fratson, Graham Bell, Steve Connolly and John Taylor pulled it back from a 10-4 deficit after four ends to win 23-19.

New Earswick 'B' enjoyed a 129-47 win over old rivals York 'D' in Yorkshire League division two.

After dropping three at the first end, Gordon Fratson, Barry Harrison, Rod Walker and Barry Johnson picked up fours at the next two, staying on top to win 28-14 against G. Dickinson, R. Knight, J. Sandle and R. Monroe.

Joe Barker, Brian Hutton, Alan Shearer and Eric Cookson scored a four and then a six to lead D. Walls, I. Macklane and D. Berwick 22-4 after 13 ends. York picked up 12 shots at the next seven ends but Earswick ran out 28-16 winners.

At Thanet Road, both Earswick rinks had big wins.

Steve Connolly, Steve Hudson, John Taylor and Bob Barrett had a six, a five and three fours to lead S. Elsie, B. Carter, D. Holder and J. Woodworth 32-5 after 16 ends. They went on to win 35-10.

Brian Harton, Dave Crane Graham Lockwood and Dick Osguthorpe scored a six and two fives, only allowing J. Headley, D. Snarr, D. Walton & J. Woodworth to score two twos in the first 18 ends, going on to a 38-7 win.

York Knights let victory slip away once again this season as they lost to Leeds in Yorkshire O55s League division one.

The away leg was played first. Allen Clapham, Dave Preece, Jim Robertson and Graham Instone scored 11 shots between the sixth and ninth ends to lead 14-3.

Their opponents slowly came back and, with five ends to play, the score stood at 15-13 before Instone's men picked up seven shots over the next three ends and finished winning 22-17.

Alan Braithwaite, Dave Clough, David White and Pete Bradley were 7-0 ahead after three ends but, with two to play, they trailed 17-15 before a two followed by a single gave them an 18-17 victory.

At home, both rinks were in good positions but lost their way. Pete Waring, Vic Woolley, Barry Walker and Geoff Walker were 11-7 ahead and lost 24-14.

Colin Robinson, Eric Hodgson, Dave Berwick and Steve Lea were 14-11 in front and lost 24-22.

York Vikings needed to win to keep up their chances of retaining the division one title but were climbing a mountain after the away legs were lost by an aggregate of 20 shots.

Ken Griffiths, Alan Hampshire, Graham Brooke and John Whiteley had fought out a very close game, which stood at 16-16 with two ends to play, but they came away without reward as they dropped two singles.

Dave Cowsill, Mick Cooney, Gordon Fennell and Jeff Normanton picked up a three on the 12th end to be just 10-8 behind - but only won one more end and lost their game 28-10.

At home, Harley Wenham, Trevor Wilford, Phil Parsons and Malcolm Lewars were level going into their last end before dropping a single to lose 20-19.

Alan Vowles, Malcolm Harrison, Dave Dale and Tony Horobin were involved in a tight game where singles and twos were scored on 20 out of the 21 ends played, but the away team won 13 of them and took the game 16-13.

The defeat, along with Redcar's 12-2 points win against Leeds ends the Vikings' title chances, while Harrogate's maximum haul relegates the Knights to division two.

Tomorrow, the Vikings complete their game against North Cave White, looking to pick up a win to finish in the top three and earn a place in the end of season Challenge Cup.

On Saturday, York 'D' play Doncaster in Yorkshire League division three. On Sunday (4pm), York IBC host the Top Club quarter-final tie between Blackpool Newton Hall and Spalding.