THE Gargrave green was in excellent condition to welcome the first final of the season.

Devon favourites Peter Clark and Les Foster found themselves in the same half of the draw for the Jeff Clark Spring Floodlight competition.

Addingham’s skipper John Jubb took on Clark in the quarter-final and found the going tough as he lost 21-8.

Foster found things a little more difficult against Keighley’s Sharon Gadd, before winning 21-13.

Rolls Royce's David Turner got the better of Peter Hepworth 21-14. while

Devon’s Michael Claxton led im Horsfield 16-12 until a change of length saw the Keighley bowler come right back to win 21-17.

The semi-finals saw Clark and Foster go head to head. Foster got the better of the early game before Clark dug in to level at 15-15.

That was as good as it got as Foster picked up the jack and then ran out to win 21-15.

The other semi-final was a really good game with both players bowling well.

Turner led 13-9 before Horsfield used his experience to edge 16-13 ahead. It was then very tight to the finish but the Rolls bowler found the points needed to move into the final 21-19.

Foster was a big favourite to pick up his first Jeff Clark Trophy, but the expected romp to victory didn't materialise.

Turner made Foster fight all the way. Foster got the early lead, but Turner kept with him and levelled the match at 12-12.

Foster found a three as he pulled into a 17-12 lead and hard though Turner tried he went down 21-17.

The Skipton & District Bowling League gets under way this week, with the new two league format hoping to give a big lift to the local bowling.