One of the most exciting matches ever took place when York played Leicester in the sixth round of bowls' Denny Cup last weekend.

York got off to a flyer and led 30-11 on aggregate after five ends with all four rinks winning. Five ends later they were 46-33 down and after 15 ends it was 56-53, but three ends later the score had turned round to 65-63 in York's favour.

Then came an exciting finish with three rinks finished and David Stroughair, Dave Hewick, Barry Walker and Philip Scott leading 21-14 to tie the aggregate scores at 74-74.

Leicester lay three shots with Stroughair only having one shot left but he made full use of this to draw the winning shot. The opposing skip then played his last shot with weight to try to move the York wood but missed, meaning York took the game 75-74.

The victory wasn't just a one-rink effort as the whole team played their part.

Stuart Bryan, Michael Bruce, Liam Cahill and John Walker led 9-0 after five ends but then Leicester won eight of the following nine, the other being tied, to lead 12-9 after 14 ends. Bryan's rink then came back to win six of the last seven to take the game 18-14.

Stroughair's win was made sweeter by the way they fought back after being 13-7 down after 11 ends. They took all but one of the remaining ends including a vital four on the 15th to win 22-14.

At Leicester, Paul Mooring, Phil Emmerson, Mal Harrison and Graham Instone led 9-3 after five ends but were pegged back as the hosts won four of the next five to lead 12-10. After 18 ends the home side still led at 18-17 but a three gave the initiative back to Mooring's team and the last two ends were shared for a 21-19 York success.

York's only losing rink came from Iain Boyle, Frank Turner, Ted Boyle and Phil Parsons, who had also led after five ends, 7-4, but then saw the home side take five successive ends.

After 14 ends Boyle's rink had managed to reduce the deficit to three at 15-12 but could only win one more end as the hosts scored eight shots over the last three ends to win 27-14.

York now play Kingsthorpe from Northampton in the quarter-final on Saturday, January 25, at a neutral venue to be decided.

Updated: 09:52 Tuesday, December 24, 2002