NEW Earswick Falcons enjoyed derby delight in Yorkshire Over-55s Bowls League division two as they beat York Romans 88-67 to claim 12 of the 14 points.

At Huntington Road, home players Rod Walker, Graham Lockwod, Mick Head and Bill Waldie trailed Gordon Walker's rink 9-6 after 11 ends but won four of the next five to lead 16-10 and held on to triumph 18-16.

Bob Elliot, Dave Kermode, Dick Osguthorpe and Ralph Tiplady won eight of the first 10 ends to lead M Snowden 16-4 but were pegged back to 16-15 with five to play, the York rink bagging a five among six winning ends.

The Falcons took the last five, though, for a 25-15 win.

At Thanet Road, Alan May's home rink, having been 12-12 with Dave Imeson, Bill Nuckey, Brian Birch and Barry Johnson after 12 ends, scored a four and five singles at the next six ends to build an 18-9 lead en route to a 20-13 win.

But Earswick's Dave Sykes, Paul Murray, Dave Elcock and Tony Abbot got off to a flier against Ron Munro and, aided by a five and a four, led 15-1 after seven ends.

The Romans scored a five at the 11th end to cut the gap but two threes and a six to lead set Earswick off for a 32-16 victory.

New Earswick Ospreys were no match for leaders Harrogate, though, as they lost 105-71 - the table-toppers taking all 18 points.

At Earswick, Vic Woolley, Dave Booth, Dave Hutchinson and Alwyn Anderson led 5-4 after six ends but lost the next four, dropping a seven and a five, to fall 17-5 behind.

They got a seven back at the 13th but still trailed 27-17 before winning the last five ends to go down only 27-25.

Dave Counter, Dave Toms, John Taylor and Bob Barrett dropped a five at the first end and a four at the fifth and, after picking up only six singles, trailed 28-6 after 17. They won the last four to cut the gap to 28-13.

At Harrogate, Gordon Johnson, Pat Inwood, Vic Thompson and Eric Cookson led 12-5 after eight ends but Harrogate won five of the next six, including a six and a four, to go 21-15 up. Earswick won five of the last seven but lost 26-24.

Howard Darrell, Bruce Dobson, Alan Price and Kevin Potter only scored five singles in the first 12 ends and trailed 13-5. They then notched a four but fell away to lose 24-11.