YORK Railway Institute veered off the track when they met an unstoppable force in Jean Baker's Blackwell, Derbyshire team in a National Express Women's English Fours Championship bowls clash at Royal Leamington Spa last night.

Pat Wilson and her RI clubmates Shirley Stacey, Marjorie Elvidge and Sue Kirkpatrick reeled as England skip Baker exploded out of the blocks into an 11-0 lead after just three ends.

Wilson got off the mark with three successive singles in this preliminary round tie, but she was soon in deeper trouble as Baker - with 2003 World Mixed Pairs Matchplay champion Lynne Whitehead operating as her number two - unleashed 14 shots over seven ends to stretch her advantage to 25-4.

Scores of four and three in the home straight took Wilson into double figures, but there was no halting the runaway Baker, who thundered on to win 31-11 to reach today's first round proper.

Updated: 10:57 Wednesday, August 04, 2004