DERWENT Arms ‘B’ remain strong favourites to take the Malton & Norton League division ‘A’ trophy despite being shocked 4-3 by Bright Steels ‘B’.

Steels are fighting for survival and it was that underdog spirit that won through.

Derwent still have a 13-point cushion at the top.

The race for second spot has three teams locked on 78 points.

Malton Cons beat Union ‘B’ 5-2 to go joint second, with Union slipping into the relegation zone.

Bright Steels ‘A’ edged Union 4-3, leaving both also joint second.

New Globe ‘B’ have given themselves a slight chance of avoiding the drop as they pipped Royal Oak ‘A’.

Railway Tavern have a nine-point gap at the top of division ‘B’ after a 5-2 win over Spotted Cow.

Hyde Park ‘A’, in second, were handed a walkover by Gate Inn.

Meanwhile, the ladies’ individual final will be a repeat of the last two years as defending champion Kirsty Taylor faces 2013 winner Claire Jackson. This match, along with all other individual and pairs competition finals, will be played at Bright Steels on Monday, March 23.

This coming Monday sees the semi-finals of the team knockout, with Bright Steels ‘A’ facing Union ‘B’ at Malton Cons and giant-killers New Globe ‘A’ meeting division ‘A’ high-fliers Malton Cons at Bright Steels.