YORK 'A' strengthened their position at the top of the Yorkshire Over-55s Indoor Bowls League first division with a comprehensive 98-63 aggregate victory over neighbours New Earswick, picking up all 18 points at stake.

At Thanet Road, Peter Littlewood, Barry Walker, Colin Sharpley and Doug Mitchell scored a six on the fourth end to lead 8-2, a six-shot advantage they held until the ninth end.

Then New Earswick's Ray Clark, Graham Watson, Albert Wilson and Alan Spencer countered and looked to have the home side worried when they got within one shot at 16-15. However, Littlewood's men stepped up a gear to win four of the last five ends for a 25-16 win.

In the other rink, Fred Clayden, Dave McCowan, Tom Ellis and Ken Patterson had a good start against Bob Howland, Dave Sykes, Ron Wood and John Quinn winning eight of the first nine ends to lead 13-2. Though Howland's side hit back, the York ranks won 27-18.

At Huntington Road, Barry Johnson, Dave Kermode, Dave Pearson and Dennis Ellis won the first end but then lost the next seven to trail Frank Turner, Peter Long, Alwyn Redhead and Dudley Williams 12-2. The home side responded with two winning ends to be only five behind.

But the visitors turned on the style, winning five successive ends to seal a 24-12 win.

Bob Edwards, Ralph Tiplady, Graham Lockwood and Mick Stannard never recovered from an 8-0 deficit and despite a brave rally they eventually perished 22-17 to Graham Brooke, Geoff Walker, Tex Stevens and Ken Huston.

York 'A' have now only dropped eight points from a possible 72 and lead the table by a massive 22 points with three games to play.

In the same league York 'B' were unlucky to lose to North Cave.

The away leg, played two days before the game at Thanet Road, gave the home side what seemed an impossible task. Having to make up a 32-shot deficit, after Eric Hodgson, Keith Turner, Marsh Robertson and Charlie Arnett were overwhelmed 37-9, losing all but six ends.

However, Geoff Oglesby, Norman Vause, Ken Lewington and Maurice Hutchinson fared a lot better. They led 15-12 with five ends only to crash 20-16.

It did not look good at home where Dennis Haw, Tony Bryan, Noel Mallen and Harley Wenham trailed 5-2 after the first five ends. But in an amazing turn-around they won 11 of the next 14 ends to win 34-8.

Club-mates Brian Thomas, Ron Kirkpatrick, Dave Clayton and Dave Holder rallied from 9-2 down to within two shots. But then both rinks dropped two shots each to put the match out of reach.

Haw's team win by 35-10 and Thomas's lose by 19-17 to leave the 'B' team just above relegation, level on points with New Earswick.

Updated: 10:39 Thursday, December 23, 2004