Bowls: York succumb to ‘Gate force

The Thanet Road side dropped 25 shots while only scoring 13 between the fifth and tenth ends, a run which took the aggregate score to 43-26.

Despite making a spirited fight back, they were unable to reverse the result.

At home, June Clayton, Tina Robinson, Betty Richardson and Melanie Brooke only lost one of their last six ends as they went from 14-13 ahead to finish 26-15 winners.

Joan Jackson, Pauline Armitage, Sue Allen and Linda Harrison were 12-4 down after ten ends and struggled to get back into their game as they lost 23-12.

In Harrogate, Pam Richardson, Pat Potter, Sheila Turpin and Helen Wood had a bad run between the fifth and 15th ends, where they went from 6-3 in front to 19-12 behind. They won five of the last six ends to pinch a 22-20 victory with a two on the last.

Another strong York rink of Carol Banks, Maureen Walker, Sue Kirkpatrick and Helen Walker were surprisingly beaten as they only won one of the last six ends, going from 14-12 down to lose 22-15.

York are in second place in the league, two points behind leaders Harrogate with a game in hand.

Today at 11.50am, York ladies play their Vivienne Trophy semi-final against Falcon of Chelmsford at the neutral venue of Melton IBC.

On Saturday at noon, York can win the Yorkshire League division two title with a game to spare if they beat Huddersfield by a big margin.

Meanwhile, Dave Stroughair and Carol Instone went out of the national mixed pairs finals at the last-16 stage when they lost to Torquay United.

Trailing 12-6 after ten ends, they turned the game round to lead 15- 14. They needed four shots on the last to draw, but they lost 20-17.

Lynda Parker, Sue Kirkpatrick and Helen Walker also went out at the same stage in the ladies’ over-50s two-wood triples as they lost 18-13 to Durham’s Arlene Stafford’s team.

STEADY ROLL: York Indoor Bowls Club's June Clayton

CITY rivals York and New Ears wick collide tomorrow at midday with plenty at stake in Yorkshire Over-55s League division one.

York need to win to keep their Challenge Cup hopes alive - they are 12 points adrift of a cup spot with two games remaining - and New Earswick are fighting for survival.

York’s Challenge Cup bid was dented after losing 74-68 on aggregate to Featherstone, only picking up four points.

The Thanet Road club only had one winning rink - the away team of Alan Vowles, Phil Parsons, Andy Humphreys and Graham Brooke.

They dropped singles on the first three ends, but responded with a four and then led through - out as a six helped to seal a 21-12 win.

Dudley Williams, Malcolm Harrison, Roger Ford and Tex Stevens matched the home side for most of the game, only trailing by one shot at 20-19 with two ends to go. However, they lost 23-19.

At home, there was disappointment for both rinks.

Dave Dale, Ray Calpin, Jim Robertson and Malcolm Thompson played well up to the 11th end when they led 13-7. They then let the game slip, going into their last end level at 16-16. Chasing the win, they dropped two shots for an 18-16 loss.

John Micklethwaite, Chris Bishop, Eric Hodgson and Geoff Walker won eight of the last 11 ends, but the damage had already been done to suffer a 21-12 reverse.

In Yorkshire League division three, York ‘B’ beat Harrogate ‘B’ 92-83, picking up ten of the 18 points at stake to move into fifth place.

They are two points behind fourth-placed Harrogate, who occupy the last Challenge Cup qualifying position.

It could have been a bigger points haul as York were on tar - get for three winning rinks with three ends to go, but they only had one, that of Harley Wenham, Ray Wynn, Jim Robertson and Geoff Walker.

They only lost five ends for a comfortable 33-7 win.

Michael Allen, Norman Ellis, Paul Craven and Ken Robinson were 14-3 down after ten ends but came back well, winning all but two of the remaining 11 ends to only lose 20-18.

In Harrogate, John Birch, Alan Yoward, Allan May and Eric Hodgson had come from 17-12 down to lead 25-17 but crashed 32-25.

Charlie Arnett, Colin Sharpley, John Butler and Ron Munro were in with a chance with three ends to play as they only trailed by two shots at 18-16, but they lost 24-16.

York ‘B’ play New Earswick ‘B’ on Saturday at noon.

GOLDEN GRAHAM: Graham Lockwood sends down a shot for New Earswick IBC

NEW Earswick Indoor Bowls Club’s dismal form in the Yorkshire Over-55s League was extended against North Cave.

A 103-63 defeat ensured not a single point return for New Earswick after their opponents seized all 18 points on offer.

At home, the rink of Paul Murray, Pat Inwood, Colin Ellis and Graham Lockwood took an early lead against that of E Kilgallon and held the advantage to be 7-4 to the good after seven ends.

However, they lost the next five ends to trail 11-7. Though they won the next three ends to inch 12-11 ahead, the New Earswick quartet picked up just one one more shot over the final six ends for a 20-13 defeat.

In the other home game, Vic Thompson, Kevin Potter, Brian Birch and Mick Head ceded the first three ends only to rally and lead 11-8 after nine ends.

But New Earswick’s supremacy then petered out. Cave surged clear with a run of 30 shots, including a six and a brace of fives, with their hosts managing mere singles to lose 38-14.

The two away games were far closer.

New Earswick’s Bob Elliott, Eric Cookson, Dave Imeson and Dave Elcock held their own against the rink of G Blunn to be 8-7 up after nine ends and 12-12 after 13.

Cabe, though, got the better of the last eight ends to triumph 23-16.

In the final game pitching Dave Sykes, Bob Barrett, Terry Bellwood and Barry Johnson against the home rink of J Sellars, the lead kept changing hands.

New Earswick led 6-1 after five ends to then trail 12-6 after ten.

The lead was regained at 17-14 after 15 ends with the rivals locked at 19-19 with three ends to play.

Cave settled the matter with a four to Earswick’s two singles to prevail 23-21.