YORK Vikings came out on top against nearest rivals North Cave White 86-72 to seal the Yorkshire Over-55s League division one title for the second year running.

After two successive defeats they needed to be on top form against the only team who could have taken their crown, and while the rinks were shared, the Vikings took the aggregate.

The away rinks were played first.

Gordon Fennell, Barry Walker, Dave Dale and Mal Bulmer looked comfortable at 14-9 up but dropped 10 shots over the next four ends to trail 19-15. However, they won the remaining four for a 25-19 victory.

Ken Griffiths, Mick Cooney, Phil Parsons and Tony Horobin trailed 18-8 before responding with a five then a three. The home side picked up three singles to lead 21-16 but the last three ends were all won by Horobin's men as they finished 21-20.

With a five-shot advantage, the home quartets just had to make sure they kept the aggregate score in their favour - and did so.

Graham Instone, Alan Hampshire, Malcolm Harrison and John Whiteley were struggling at 16-6 down but Alan Vowles, Trevor Wilford, Graham Brooke and Jeff Normanton lost only five ends throughout and won 27-10.

Whiteley's team also stopped leaking shots and eventually went down 22-14.

In division two, York Knights were also eyeing the title but fell 84-72 to Doncaster, the home rinks having been left with a big deficit to overturn after their away teams lost 58-31 on aggregate.

Harley Wenham, Pat Simpson, David White and Geoff Walker won 24-13, and Charlie Arnett, Dave Holder, Dave Elcock and Ray Calpin took a tight game 17-13, but it wasn't enough.

The Knights sit second and need to beat third-placed North Cave Yellow next week to gain promotion.

Meanwhile, New Earswick Ospreys took derby bragging rights as they beat York Romans 96-14 - winning all four rinks.

At Huntington Road, Gordon Fratson, Barry Shipley, Dave Hutchinson and John Taylor led Andy Lockwood, Noel Mallum, R Munch and Trevor Scott 13-3 after nine ends. The Romans hit back with a six and were 18-17 up with three ends to play, but the Ospreys scored a five and went on to win 23-19.

Steve Connolly, Gordon Johnson, Nigel Steels and Gary Stockton started with a five against C Robinson, N Ellis, Gordon Walker and M Snowden and scored another five to lead 14-8. They were pegged back to 19-18 with two to play but won 23-18.

At Thanet Road, New Earswick's Phil Whitehead, Dave Crane, Alwyn Anderson and Bob Barrett won five of the first six ends against Paul Waring, Ray Wynn, Dave Preece and Alan May before dropping a whopping seven at the seventh to trail 9-8.

They were 11-9 down after nine but then took control of the game and won 28-16.

Dave Furness, Howard Darrell, Vic Reed and Vic Thompson had a tight match against Alan Braithwaite, D Walls Alan Yoward and Ray Clark, with the lead changing hands several times before the Ospreys won four ends on the trot to go 20-12 up, holding on for a 22-18 win.

Meanwhile, York 'C' stunned Yorkshire League division three leaders North Cave 'B' 80-58 to increase their chances of a Hebden Challenge Cup place at the end of term.

At home, Colin Robinson, Trevor Scott, Gordon Walker and Mick Snowden led 11-0 after only four ends, going on to win 27-10.

Dave Clough, Jack Parsons, Paul Craven and Jim Robertson came from 3-1 down to lead 11-4 and stayed ahead to finish 19-11.

Away, Wally Darbyshire, Mal Rankeillor, Dave Clarke and Tony Bryan led 13-5 but the scores were level three ends later and with two ends to play they trailed 20-15. A three gave them hope but they just missed out with a single on the last to go down 20-19.

Andy Lockwood, Noel Mallen, Dave Dearlove and Ray Clark fought back from 14-2 down but ran out of time and lost 17-15.

On Saturday at noon, York play Hornsea in the Yorkshire Ladies' League.