STEPHEN Yule returned from his half term holidays with a bang on Saturday winning all three of his games in the MD International Junior Bowls League to move into contention for a top four play-off place.

League leader Oliver Ellison won one and lost one of his matches.

The race for the top eight play-off positions in the Youth League is becoming a closely run affair that looks certain to go down to the last matches of the season.

Although the league leader Danny Watson suffered a surprise defeat he still remains the hot favourite to pick up the title.

Chris Bradshaw is in second place, closely followed by John Harris in third, John Brown in fourth and Sarah Drewery in fifth.

The star performers in the cadets section were Johnathan Rigby, who looked impressive in his match, Daniel Parker, who is slowly moving up the table and the trio of young girl players Georgina Collins, Abbeygail Birchall and Jessica Lynsky.

As for the newcomers' section, Alicia Blythe, Emma Regan and Hope Thomas all made an impressive start to their bowling careers giving promise that there are even better things to come.