New Earswick Ladies were bitterly disappointed after just missing out on a final spot in their Yorkshire League decider against Hornsea losing 81-76 and by six points to four overall.

At home Brenda Keller, Lys Jerrum, Maureen Cooper and Margaret Blows led from start to finish and won 23-14 though there was no success from the other home rink of Margaret Moss, Kath Sykes, Joan Lister and Dot Kay who lost 30-16.

At Hornsea Maureen Wood, Moyra Headley, Maureen Shorrocks and Pat Walker had an excellent game as they dominated their match winning 25-8 though the other rink of Pat Walker, Diane Hardy, Barbara Brigham and Kath Hardcastle found themselves 15-4 down after ten ends before losing 29-12. New Earswick finished a respectable second in their group losing out by just two shots.

York Ladies finished their league campaign with a convincing 110-50 win against Hull to finish second in their group.

At home Carol Instone, Sue Kirkpatrick, Maureen Thomas and Joan Jackson trounced their opponents 36-6 only losing five ends.

In the other rink Melanie Brooke, Sheila Turpin, Joyce Chelin and Trish Stevens had an equally good win endorsing their domination with a six on the last end as they won 33-11.

At Hull Linda Harrison, Pat Wilson, Ann Redhead and Dot Kennelly were involved in a tight game that saw them go from 11-11 after 12 ends to 16-11 down two ends later. However, they then won the next six ends to lead 22-16 going into the last end, where they lost a single.

Sue Tomlinson, Brenda Love, Maureen Walker and Madge Zimnoch built up a good 17-9 lead after 15 ends.

But then the home side responded with three winning ends where they scored six shots to reduce the arrears to two shots, but York won 19-16.

That gave them maximum points but it wasn't enough to catch leaders Thornaby.

New Earswick ended their Yorkshire Over 55s season with a disappointing 76-70 defeat at the hands of Thornaby against whom they collected a mere two points.

At home Ken Harrison, Alf Lewis, Ralph Tiplady and David Pearson won 19-14 .

In the other home rink Bob Edwards, Barry Harrison, Mick Stannard and Joe Cooper had a comfortable lead at 17-11 after 13 ends, but could only win one of the remaining ends and went down 27-18.

Bob Howland, Ken Plowman, Alistair Sugden and Harry Rhodes found themselves 16-10 down after 17 ends at Thornaby after dropping a five but soon came back with two fours on the next two ends to lead by two.

This was cancelled out as the home team drew level on the penultimate end, but fortunately Howland's team gained the winning shot for a 19-18 triumph.

Ray Clark, Colin Fawcett, Dave Sykes and Ray Bowman got off to a decent start leading 4-1 after five ends but then lost six successive ends to trail 11-4 and finally lot 17-14.

New Earswick were represented in the The Evans Property Group Yorkshire Knockout fours by John Snowden, Dave Sykes, Dave Thompson and Tony Taylor against Selby's Gilyeat, Gath, Patrick and Mansell who managed to get the required shots and take the game 18-17 on the last end.

The host club were also represented in the triples by Ray Clark, Kevin Forte and Mick Farmery playing against the Thornaby team. But they lost out 23-14.

In the Under 18s singles Huddersfield's Matthew Hick beat Richard Cowan 21-6 after Hick had earlier beaten New Earswick's Stephen Long in the semi final 21-10.

Selby celebrated their centenary with a friendly game against Yorkshire.

County President Barry Johnson skipped a successful 19-13 winning rink.

After taking the lead on the third end they never looked back.

Fellow New Earswick Club member Bob Edwards skipped an 18-14 victorious rink after being 7-2 down after seven ends.

Bill Waldie played third to Tim Whitelam who led for most of the game winning 24-22 and the York trio of John Emmerson, Phil Parsons and Peter Littlewood came from 20-19 down with two ends to play to win 22-20. Yorkshire won the game 132-116.

Entries are now being taken for the 35th Annual Open Bowls Tournament starting on Monday, July 29. For entry forms contact Ian Farrar tel 01904 632159. The closing date for entries is April 21.

Updated: 11:39 Thursday, March 21, 2002