Yorkshire won the 12th Civil Service regional indoor bowls finals at York and District Indoor Bowls Club for the second year running.

They were represented by Charlie Bateman and Mick Corringham (York), Tony Whitelam (Featherstone) and Tony Horobin (Huddersfield), who beat Wales 17-5.

Yorksahire got into the final on shots difference even though they won four of their five group games, beating Northern Ireland 15-4, London 18-5, Eastern England 14-7 and North West England 23-7. Their only defeat was 13-3 to Northern England.

Eastern won four games but, crucially, had lost to Yorkshire.

After ten hours bowling for both teams during a 26 hour period, the final proved to be a one-sided affair as Yorkshire won six of the first seven ends to lead 9-1.

Wales came back with a three and a single but that was it as the White Rose won the remaining ends to take the title.

Peter Littlewood's team of Barry Walker, Noel Cammidge and John Scott beat Dennis Haw, Ernie Backhouse and Ken Dove 17-13 in an an exciting Eric Hopwood competition final at York and District Indoor Bowls Club.

Haw's team won the first two ends to lead 7-0, but the scores were level four ends later at 7-7.

Haw, Backhouse and Dove won the next four ends to lead 12-7 but then a matc- winning run of seven winning ends out of the last eight gave the game to Littlewood's men.

York and District Indoor Bowls Club played the North Yorkshire Short Mat Bowls League in an inaugural challenge match at Thanet Road.

Each side fielded eight two-wood triples, playing two games of each code and getting two points for each win.

North Yorkshire led 20-12 at halfway, but in the afternoon the host club won 13 of the 16 games to take the trophy by 38-26. But on aggregate scores, North Yorkshire League won by 11 shots, scoring 337 to York and District's 326.

The York andDistrict rink of Dave Willis, Pete Grosvenor and Irene Paylor won their four games, and picked up the best rink award.

York Open Bowls Tournament Committee have extended the closing date to May 15 for entries for this year's 35th annual competition, which starts on Monday, July 29. Completed entry forms should be sent to Ian Farrar at 17 Melton Avenue, Clifton, York or telephone him for forms on 01904 632159.

Farrar's team beat Allan Ellwood 25-15 to win the New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club men's triples title and not as reported in last week's bowls results section.

Updated: 12:31 Thursday, May 02, 2002