YORKSHIRE’S elite bowlers conjured a dramatic Middleton Cup fight-back against Cumbria to seal a quarter-final place for the second time in three years.

The White Rose team went into the tie at Dunnington Bowls Club needing only two rinks wins and one draw to secure the five points they needed to ensure they topped the Northern Area group.

However, they were deflated by the news that England international Vinnie O’Neil, of Middlesbrough, was unable to play in the key fixture.

After five ends, only one Yorkshire rink was in a winning position, that of Nafferton’s Mark Walton, who led ex-England Under-25 star Gavin Taylor 7-4.

By the ten-end stage, all six Tyke rinks were in losing positions and, with Cumbria holding an overall shots lead of 29, Yorkshire were heading for a 22-0 defeat.

Slowly but surely over the next five ends the White Rose began to rally and, after 15 ends, three rinks were within two shots of their respective leads, with one in a positive position.

Only three ends later, Yorkshire had held a winning position on two rinks, those of Nafferton’s Nigel Brignall and York RI Amateurs’ Mike Bruce.

When the first three rinks completed their 21 ends, Yorkshire had not yet walked off the green with a point and all eyes were on the remaining games.

The rink skippered by RI Amateurs’ Paul Humphreys battled back to 17-17 after 19 ends and laid two shots on the 20th end with only one Cumbrian bowl remaining.

Agonisingly for the Carlisle-based side, the bowl flicked the jack sideways and Yorkshire scored five shots and they eventually won 22-19.

Brignall’s rink clung on to an impressive 21-17 victory over ex-England U25 international Danny May.

The hosts knew that a draw between Bruce and Stephen Farish would put the county through.

Yorkshire started the final end of the match one shot up at 18-17 and it was decided by the very last bowl from Cumbrian skip Farish.

Trying to find the second shot they desperately wanted, he touched his own shot bowl, which fell away from rather than towards the jack.

By one inch and one point, Yorkshire made it through to the last eight, where they will play Leicestershire at the neutral venue of Nottingham on Saturday, July 23.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire ‘B’ chalked up a remarkable Alsop Cup result as they won all six rinks at Lancashire, despite not having a full complement of players due to late withdrawals.

Holgate’s Nigel Macdonald was in a rink of only three players, but they still ran out winners.