YORK 'C' upset the formbook to lift the Yorkshire Bowls League's Hebden Challenge Cup.

The team, playing in their first season, only just qualified for the competition after winning their last three games in division three to finish in the top four.

Yet, in the round-robin games, they hammered champions Selby and runners-up Leeds and, despite losing to neighbours New Earswick, they did enough to take the trophy.

Selby had won the league comfortably by nine points, but York beat them 57-37, picking up the maximum 14 points from four winning rinks plus the aggregate score.

They quickly opened an aggregate lead thanks to Charlie Arnett, Jack Parsons, Dave Preece and Mike Snowden, who won 23-6.

Andy Lockwood, Colin Robinson, Paul Craven and Jim Robertson also led 7-2 before John Harrand's side levelled at 7-7. Thereafter singles were scored with Robertson's side edging it 10-9.

Wally Derbyshire, Noel Mallen, Gordon Walker and Tony Bryan held on to win their contest 11-10, while Pete Waring, Mal Rankeillor, Barry Walker and Ray Clark, having trailed 12-8 with three ends to play, came back to win 13-12.

New Earswick narrowly lost 40-38 to Leeds but picked up four points from two winning rinks.

Gordon Fratson, Dave Booth, Vic Thompson and Kev Potter trailed 10-5 after nine ends but stormed back to win 13-10.

Pat Inwood, Bob Barrett, Nigel Steele and Alwyn Anderson provided New Earswick's other victory, finishing 9-5.

Brian Birch, Brian Hutton, Terry Bellwood and Dick Osgudthorpe lost 13-7 while Joe Barker, Dave Hutchinson, Steve Hudson and John Snowden led 9-4 with four ends left but lost 12-9.

York then beat Leeds 75-43, again picking up maximum points.

Mike Snowden's team again led the way as they notched a six at the second end and didn't look back in a 20-7 win.

Robertson's side also won 25-13, Bryan's team rose from 11-3 down to win 15-11, and Clark's men triumphed 15-11.

New Earswick also put in a top performance to beat Selby 64-41, picking up 12 points to give themselves a slim chance of winning the trophy.

Osgudthorpe's team won 19-5, Anderson's side stormed 17-1 up en route to triumphing 20-10, and John Snowden's team pulled away with seven shots on the 13th and 14th ends and won 18-10.

Potter's side dropped seven shots over the last four ends to lose 16-7.

York went into the last game knowing New Earswick needed to win all four rinks to nick top spot off them.

They got two of them to win 69-49 on aggregate but York took two, too, to secure top the table by six points and take the trophy.

For York, Trevor Scott replaced Mike Snowden, with Preece moving up to skip, and they got off to a good start to lead 6-3. Anderson's team, though, stormed back to win 21-7.

Kev Potter's team also beat Bryan's rink 22-8, as Earswick eyed a smash and grab.

However, York hit back as Robertson's side led John Snowden's team 12-4 and 20-8 and finished 20-15, while Clark's rink led from start to finish against Dick Osgudthorpe's and won 14-11.

Robertson and Clark's York teams and Anderson's New Earswick rink went through the day with 100 per cent records.

* ON Saturday at noon, York face leaders Selby in the North Eastern League needing victory to have any chance of staying in section 'A'.

On Sunday, the Gordon Little Trophy takes place at Thanet Road, starting at 10am. All competitors are asked to turn up at 9.30am.