NORTH Yorkshire glee was enjoyed by York Indoor Bowls Club, whose ‘A’ team got their Yorkshire Over-55s League division one campaign off to the best possible start.

They beat Harrogate 117-62 and collected a maximum 18 points from four winning rinks.

Both away rinks started briskly. Dave Dale, Andy Humphreys, Roger Ford and skip Graham Instone led 11-3 after five ends on the way to a 33-15 win.

Ray Calpin, Malcolm Harrison, Eric Hodgson and skip Geoff Walker scored a four, then a three on the first couple of ends and kept the lead throughout their game, only losing eight ends as they won comfortably 29-14.

With a 33-shot advantage the home rinks had to make sure of winning, and they followed the example of the away teams.

Dudley Williams, Gordon Walker, Tex Stevens and Malcolm Thompson won the first four ends to lead 12-0 en route to an emphatic 32-14 victory.

Alan Vowles, Barry Walker, Phil Parsons and Graham Brooke went 18-4 up after 12 ends, but within four ends the visitors got back to 18-15. Fortunately, York got back to winning ways and took three of the next four ends before confirming a 23-19 win.

Hopes of York ‘A’ bouncing straight back into the Yorkshire League first division were boosted by an emphatic 120-41 victory over Scarborough ‘B’ with all four rinks winning.

At home, Neal Macdonald, Graham Instone, Stuart Smith and Paul Mooring started with a four on the first end, then bagged a five only to lose the next four before surging to a 36-9 success.

Dudley Williams, Malcolm Thompson, Phil Parsons and Dave Stroughair led 13-0 after seven ends before their opponents got on the board. The home side got back on the winning trail taking all but three of the remaining ends to finish 32-9 winners.

Away, Ray Calpin, Andy Humphreys, Malcolm Harrison and John Harris went behind with a four on the tenth to trail 11-9 but responded to triumph 23-14. Alan Vowles, Nigel Macdonald, Tex Stevens and Graham Brooke were always in control, losing only six ends in a 29-9 success.

A third maximum York win was achieved in division three when the ‘B’ team ousted Hornsea ‘B’ 98-54 for another maximum 18-point haul.

At home, Alan Potter, Colin Sharpley, Ron Munro and Bob Blackburn were first to finish after overcoming a wobble midway to confirm a 26-14 victory.

Charlie Arnett, John Sanders, Chris Bishop, and Eric Hodgson were level at 7-7 after eight ends but only lost one more before sealing a 35-12 win.

Away, Alan Yoward, Allan May, Alan Clapham and Ken Robinson were involved in a great comeback. Trailing 16-6 with eight ends to play they countered for a 24-16 triumph.

Harley Wenham, Norman Ellis, Gordon Walker and Geoff Walker were involved in a tight tussle. They rallied from 12-11 down to take two singles in the last two ends and prevail 13-12.
 

National call for trio

THREE of York’s star youngsters are on the brink of national recognition.

Full England and Under-25 international Zoe Eagles has been invited for a full England trial on December 14 and also the U25s, in which she will be joined by club-mate Hayley Macdonald on December 13.

Adam Liddell, who won the national mixed pairs title with Eagles last year, has been rewarded with a trial for England U25s on November 23.

Mason tie

YORK ‘A’ play Harrogate and York ‘B’ meet Huddersfield in the Mason Trophy tomorrow at noon, while the men’s ‘A’ team tackle Hornsea in the EIBA O60s double rinks, starting at 12.30pm.

A thrilling Denny Cup derby pits York against New Earswick on Saturday, the tie starting at both venues at 10am.