THE second round of the Ryedale League’s Bower Trophy produced some close matches in line with the handicaps allotted to players.

The match between Westow, from the third division, and second division high-fliers Amotherby ‘C’ went down to the last game, with Sara Winn Darley (+22 handicap) needing to reach 21 points against Russ Grimshaw (-8) to take Westow through to the quarter-finals.

The game swung both ways with Grimshaw needing four points for victory before Winn Darley came with a late burst to snatch it.

It ended 50-24 for Grimshaw but Winn Darley did enough to secure a 46-42 win after the handicaps were added.

The all-division three tie between FERA and Drifters was equally close with the games between Katha Heinrich and Ray Chadwick, and Heinrich and Anthony Craven both halved. The tie was secured in the last game when FERA’s Stuart Wright overcame Ray Chadwick 73-70.

First division side Helmsley ‘A’ found their handicaps too hard to overcome against second division newcomers Swinton ‘B’, losing the first five games.

However, Amotherby ‘B’, also of division one, fared better against a less handicapped team from division two, beating Ryedale ‘C’ 5-3.

The crunch game between Andy Seed and Dave Quinlan, who were playing off the same handicap (-12), saw Quinlan win 42-40 to take the tie to the eighth game which Amotherby won, Tom Needham (-22) beating Alec Hodgson (-8) 42-40.

Third division newcomers Coneysthorpe ‘C’ beat second division Hutton-le-Hole ‘A’ 6-3, James Alan remaining undefeated.