York Indoor Bowls Club win Yorkshire League Challenge Cup

Not only did they oust county champions Featherstone 75-68 in the semi-final, they then edged past league runners-up Redcar in the final to become the first team from the second division to seize the cup.

Both games were hosted by New Earswick IBC, where first York beat league kings Featherstone.

Neal Macdonald, Malcolm Harrison, Phil Parsons and Adam Liddell came from 7-3 down to lead 19-7 en route to a 26-14 success.

The rink of Alan Vowles, Tex Stevens, Graham Instone and Phil Emmerson were up against Tony Horobin’s side which saw singles scored on the first ten ends as York surged 8-2 ahead.

Featherstone came back with two twos before a five set Emmerson’s team on the road to an 18-10 success. Ray Calpin, Andy Humphreys, Graham Brooke and Paul Mooring rallied from 10-8 down to lead 16-15 with two ends to play.

But dropped a brace of twos to lose 19-16.

Dudley Williams, Nigel Macdonald, Malcolm Thompson and Dave Stroughair always trailed despite bagging a six and winning five ends on the trot and lost 25-15, but York advanced to the final to meet Redcar, who had beaten Selby in the other last-four tie.

York kept the same rinks except for Chris Bishop in for Dudley Williams in Stroughair’s side.

It was a taut tussle with two rinks drawn and a win apiece for each side before York prevailed 62-61 to enter the history books.

Emmerson’s side came from 16-7 down to go into their last end leading 17-16 before dropping a single to draw, while Stroughair’s side were 16-13 ahead with two to play before dropping a three to go into their last end all square before being edged out 17-16.

Liddell’s rink were 13-11 down with three to play but went into their last end 14-13 ahead before dropping a single to draw.

Mooring’s team went into their last end with a one shot advantage and laid another shot, which gave York the overall aggregate. So Mooring decided not to send down his last wood, which ensured a final score of 15-13.

Of the 13 Yorkshire Challenge Cup finals, York are level with Featherstone on six wins each.

Today, the Yorkshire Over-55s League Challenge Cup features Featherstone, Redcar, York and Huddersfield at New Earswick IBC from 10am.

Instant return to top flight for ladies

IN toppling Selby 91-48 with three rink wins, York IBC took the Yorkshire Ladies League section ‘B’ title by four points for a swift return to the top tier.

At home, Hayley Macdonald, Maureen Walker, Betty Richardson and Linda Harrison were 2-1 down after three ends before winning nine ends on the trot, including a seven on the 11th, for a 23-2 win, but while Jane Simpson’s team won seven of the remaining nine ends, they lost 25-9.

Carol Banks, Tina Robinson, Zoe Eagles and Helen Walker countered from 5-1 down after four ends to lead 21-6 en route to a 30-10 success.

Away, Joan Jackson, Pauline Armitage, Helen Wood and Carol Instone had a 13-12 advantage with four ends to play after Joan Woodcock’s side had come from 12-5 down. But a two, a three and a six sealed a 24-13 win for Instone’s rink.

Pam Richardson, June Clayton, Sheila Turpin and Melanie Brooke were level at 7-7 after ten ends but dropped nine shots while only scoring two before losing 16-12.

Both York and Selby were promoted with Hornsea and Scarborough relegated.

York IBC’s finals start next Tuesday with the vets singles between Ray Calpin and Alan Vowles and the vets plate between Dave Dale and Dave Pearson at 2pm.

They will be followed at 6.30pm by the ladies singles with either Zoe Eagles or Sue Allen facing Hayley Macdonald; the men’s singles between Steve Roberts and either Dave Stroughair or Adam Liddell; and the men’s plate between Neal Macdonald and John Jennison.

The ladies knockout triples final between the respective teams of Carol Instone and Maureen Walker, and the men’s final between Ray Calpin’s team and Dave Stroughair’s team will be on Wednesday at 6.30pm.