YORK and District Indoor Bowls Club Ladies team moved into the semi-finals of the Vivienne Trophy after bowling over 2002 cup winners Lincoln 87-71.

Playing at home, Joyce Gee, Doreen Rodgers, Carroll Pink and Pat Lofthouse got into their stride and pulled away at 12-8 to win 27-12.

The other home rink of Anita Haw, Clarice Johnston, Liz Worling and Ann Sharpley also had a satisfying win. A five followed by a four two ends later gave them a 24-16 victory.

At Lincoln, Pat Bracken, Doreen Arnett, Ella Armitt and Maureen Robinson led 17-7, but Lincoln fought back to lead 21-19. A four on the next for Bracken's side was not enough as a single and a two gave the home team a 24-23 victory.

In the other away rink, Margaret Smith, Irene Paylor, Mavis Puckering and Pat Ellis had the upper hand early on but lost nine of the 11 second half ends to fail 19-13.

York play Colchester for a place in the national final.

New Earswick's Ladies moved to the top of Yorkshire Ladies League division two after picking up eight points with an 89-66 victory over Hornsea.

Both home fours of Maureen Wood, Jean Bartnett, Margaret Pearson and Pat Walker, and Lys Jerrum, Kath Sykes, Jean Millar and Kath Hardcastle scored 25-14 wins.

At Hornsea, Gill Clark, Diane Hardy, Dot Kay and Mavis Clare won 23-17 despite being rocked by a 16th-end Hornsea six.

Margaret Moss, Peggy Walker, Barbara Brigham and Pat Lancaster were tied at 15-15 after 18 ends but a dropped five scuppered their chances as they went down 21-16.

York play Lincoln on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the Egham Trophy at Thanet Road, from 10am, while several players fly the York colours elsewhere.

Peter Littlewood and Barry Walker are in the National Men's Over-60s Pairs Finals at Northampton on Saturday.

On Monday, Iain Boyle, Michael Bruce, Shirley Stacey and Carol Instone play in the Mixed Fours Finals. Tex Stevens, Graham Brooke and Malcolm Harrison will be aiming for Over-50s Triples glory, while Iain and father Ted Boyle go in the Father and Son Pairs.

David Stroughair plays in the Area Singles Final at Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club against Hull's Sam Winter tomorrow night, starting at 6.30pm.

York made it over the first hurdle in the Yorkshire Double Rinks Championship for the first time in three years by beating Doncaster 48-31.

A superb 33-10 victory including a hot-shot eight on the ninth end from Iain Boyle, Frank Turner, Eddie Howcroft and Graham Instone was the deciding factor.

At Doncaster, Paul Mooring, Michael Bruce, Graham Brooke and Philip Scott went down 21-15. York play in the finals at New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club on Saturday, March 27.

Defeat wrecks New Earswick high place bid

New Earswick's hopes of a top two place vanished when they were beaten 70-65 by North Cave in Yorkshire Over-55s League division one.

At home, Barry Johnson, Ralph Tiplady, Albert Wilson and Brian Hardcastle won all but two of their last 15 ends to win 22-10, but the home aggregate points were shared when Ken Harrison, Alf Lewis, Gordon Storey and Ray Bowman finished on the wrong end of the same scoreline.

Playing away, Bob Howland, Barry Harrison, David Pearson and Ron Wood took the last three ends to win 19-16, but Graham Watson, Bryan Arundale, Mick Stannard and Mick Doherty lost six of the last seven to go down 22-14.

New Earswick's Stephen Long, Lewis Ashton and Tom Westoby scored a three on the last end against Josh Cahill, Adam Tattersall and Jamie Lee to hold Yorkshire Under-18 League leaders York to an 11-11 draw.

Phil Herridge, Adam Liddell and Zoe Eagles claimed the aggregate points for the home side after a convincing 20-4 win, including a six and a four on the last two against Rob Domville, Mick and Jamie Ollis.

Long and Cahill will represent their county in the North of England Championships in April after winning their County Singles groups at New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club last weekend.

Updated: 10:56 Thursday, February 19, 2004