THE rink of York RI Amateurs ace Paul Humphreys was key as Yorkshire beat Lancashire in the Muras Cup at Guisborough.

All six White Rose rinks led after five ends but the Red Rose clawed their way back and by ten ends the difference was only in Humphreys' 14-0 lead.

However, Yorkshire thereafter kept the comeback at bay and won 16-6, registering two winning rinks, Humphreys' included, and two drawing rinks.

The team - which also comprised A Humphreys (York RI), J Phillips (Selby), G Bunce (Haxby Road) and P Parsons (Holgate) - now face Northumberland and Durham in an attempt to secure the title in Redcar this weekend.

Yorkshire, fielding a number of debutants, lost 20-2 to Cumbria in the Alsop Cup.

They began confidently but the Cumbrian strength took its toll and, between the tenth and 15th ends, Yorkshire only won a handful of shots.

Notable performances came from the rink of Haxby Road's Phil Reeves, who registered Yorkshire's only win.

Other players included Nigel Macdonald (Holgate), A Bailey (Holgate), C Knowles (Thornton le Dale), J Crowe (Holgate WMC), S Lea (Holgate WMC), Neal Macdonald (Holgate), G Bell (Holgate WMC), M Britton (York RI Ams), B Chapman (York RI Ams) and P Jackson (Holgate WMC).

Yorkshire also lost to Derbyshire in the blue riband Balcomb Trophy, being pipped by two shots overall.

They were shellshocked at five ends, with the score across the two rinks leaving Derbyshire nine shots to the good.

Seamer player Ben Render’s rink trailed 16-3 at the halfway mark, but Humphreys' rink held a seven-shot advantage to keep the White Rose in it.

Over the next seven ends, Render’s rink mounted a stirring comeback to go just four behind with two ends to go while Humphreys rink were eight ahead.

However, on the final ends, both Derbyshire skips turned their matches around with wonder bowls to go one shot in front and Yorkshire could not strike back.