YORK Indoor Bowls Club's New Year’s Eve Pairs competition proved to be a hit once again with a full complement of entries - with Terry Wheatley and Ray Wynn taking the trophy after fighting back to pip Phil Parsons and David Wharton-Smith in the final.

Parsons and Wharton-Smith got off to a good start, scoring seven shots over the first three ends without reply, but Wheatley and Wynn won three for themselves to level the scores at 7-7.

A single gave Parsons and Wharton-Smith the advantage going into the last end, but Wheatley played a match-winning shot to score two and take the title for him and his partner with a 9-8 victory.

The draw in the morning had matched some good quality players with some promising newcomers.

One of the interesting teams paired the experienced Parsons with Wharton-Smith, who only started bowling indoors in October - and who had an exceptional day with his consistent bowling.

They went through their group matches unbeaten and topped the table on shots difference, with all the other semi-finalists also having 100 per cent records.

In the last four, Parsons and Wharton-Smith faced Pete Riley, a winner last year, and David Clough, who started bowling in September.

The game was close at 6-4 before Parsons and Wharton-Smith came out on top, winning two of the last three ends to finish 9-5.

The other semi-final went to an extra end - Wynn and Wheatley edging out Simon Wilson, a beaten finalist 12 months ago, and John Cooper.

Wilson and Cooper levelled the scores on the scheduled last end with a three, only for Wheatley and Wynn to take the match with a two 10-8.

The final proved to be as close as that semi-final.

The plate final, meanwhile, proved similar to the main competition final, with Nigel Macdonald and Jean Carter winning three out of the first four ends to lead 7-1 before Jack Parsons and Dave Clarke hit back, winning four on the trot to level at 7-7.

Parsons and Clarke then took the lead for the first time in the match with a single to take the silverware 8-7.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Under-25s enjoyed an excellent 48-38 victory over Nottinghamshire in the lat 16 of the EIBA U25s Double Rinks competition.

The home leg was played at Harrogate IBC and featured York's Neal Macdonald, the rink being skipped by home player Cameron Legate.

They overturned a 5-0 deficit into a 13-5 lead with only six ends played on their way to an impressive 34-13 victory.

The away rink, which featured York's Kieron Earnshaw and was skipped by Scarborough's Jack Bird, did well to keep their game in reach and only lost 25-14.

Yorkshire now play Lincolnshire in the quarter-finals on February 11.

Tomorrow, York Romans play North Cave Maroon, starting at noon.

Then on Saturday, Thanet Road hosts three vital matches as national competitions reach the last 16.

York's men play Cumbria in the Denny Cup, and the ladies face the same opponents in the Yetton Trophy, while Scunthorpe play Eden (Penrith) in the Yetton Plate. All three games start at 11am.

On Sunday, the Civil Service regional qualifiers take place for the Singles, starting at 9.30am, while the National Mixed Fours area semi-final between Mark Clarke's team and James Frith's Harrogate outfit takes place at noon. Then follows the National Gents Fours area semi-final at 4pm between Jason Parkinson's side and Ian Bratton's North Cave team.

RESULTS

BOWLS

York IBC New Year`s Eve Pairs

Final: Terry Wheatley & Ray Wynn 9 Phil Parsons & David Wharton-Smith 8.

Plate Final: Dave Clarke & Jack Parsons 8 Nigel Macdonald & Jean Carter 7.