New Earswick's ladies moved to the top of the North Eastern Indoor Bowls League with an impressive 91-62 victory over Selby.

They collected ten points to overtake York by one point after the Thanet Road team could only muster three points against North Cave.

At Huntington Road, Brenda Keller's team had a good start, leading 8-0 after only three ends and 17-6 after ten before winning 24-19.

Peg Walker's four trailed 6-2 after four ends, then only lost three more up to the 16th when they were level at 16-16. They then stepped up a gear to win four on the trot, scoring seven shots for a 23-17 win.

At Selby, Gill Clark's team pulled away as Sonya Turner's side threatened to pull level at 11-8. Ten shots without reply underpinned a 24-10 triumph.

In the other rink, Kath Sykes won a very even game. A four on the 19th put them 20-15 ahead. The hosts could only respond with a single, making the final score 20-16.

Margaret Smith's rink proved to be York's only winning rink as they had the edge on their North Cave opponents throughout to finish 26-18.

But the best finish came from Joyce Gee's team at North Cave. Trailing 16-15 with two ends to play, it all looked over as they dropped a six. But they remarkably bounced back with a seven to share the points at 22-22.

The next league game pits leaders New Earswick against second-placed York on Saturday, January 29 starting at both venues at noon.

York moved to within two points of Yorkshire League Champions Featherstone after they beat Ryedale 84-68 on aggregate.

At home, the mouth-watering tie between Ian Boyle's rink and Mark Walton's team was won comfortably by the York player 24-15. David Stroughair also won emphatically beating Nigel Scott's four 29-13.

At Ryedale, Gordon Smith's rink let victory slip after coming from 13-8 down to 17-15 ahead before drawing 17-17, while Phil Emmerson's rink lost 23-14 to Nigel Watson's team.

Meanwhile, York 'A' consolidated their position at the top of the Yorkshire Over-55's League division one with an excellent 84-59 win against close rivals Hull, picking up 14 points. They now lead the table by 30 points with two games to play.

Both home rinks had good starts with Peter Littlewood leading 15-5 after 11 ends going on to win 25-13. Frank Turner's team had a nine on the way to a 26-11 victory.

At Hull, Fred Clayden picked up a two on the last end to win 16-14 after he had lost three successive ends. But Graham Brooke lost 21-17 thanks to dropping a seven on the 13th end.

Drawn to conquest

The New Earswick New Year George William's drawn pairs final featured twice-winner Dick Harper and partner Anne Bristowe against Dave Birch and Pat Lancaster.

With the lead changing four times before the final end Harper and Bristowe were one up and laid shot before Birch fired his last wood of the match to give he and his partner the trophy by three shots.

Updated: 10:52 Thursday, January 20, 2005