YORK men's indoor bowls team's tight grip of their John Smith's Yorkshire Indoor Bowls League group was loosened despite a 86-72 victory over Featherstone, writes Ian Clough.

York went into the match eight points ahead of nearest rivals Hull and needed to score maximum points against Featherstone or for New Earswick to do them a favour against Hull - but neither of these things happened.

York picked up only 8 points from their victory, while New Easrwick were beaten by Hull.

The two York home rinks started very slowly and the team were 27-12 down on aggregate after only five ends. They cut the arrears to nine after ten ends, at 45-36.

Paul Mooring, Graham Brooke, Dave McCowan and Graham Instone overcame a 12-3 deficit after eight ends to be only 19-18 down with two ends to play, but two singles gave the visitors a 21-18 victory.

In the other home rink David Stroughair, Mal Harrison, Phil Parsons and Doug Mitchell were chasing the game up to the 19th end when they took the lead for the first time with a two, which had been preceded by a five.

They picked up a single on the next end but lost one on the last to finish 21-20 victors, so the home aggregate points were lost.

Playing at Featherstone, York's Iain Boyle, Charlie Bateman, Ted Boyle and Frank Turner led from the third end and never looked back in a resounding 27-11 win.

John Emmerson, Dave Hewick, Barry Walker and John Walker were 13-4 behind after eight ends but clawed their way back to draw level on the 19th end at 17-17.

All seemed lost as they dropped a three on the next end, but they responded well with a three to draw the game 20-20.

In the same group New Earswick were beaten 92-54 by Hull.

Playing at New Earswick, Bill Waldie, Ralph Tiplady, Mick Stannard and John Allan were 13-6 down after 12 ends but hit back to lead 15-14 after 17.

They led 16-15 with two ends to go but dropped a single on each and lost 17-16.

Ken Harrison, Barry Johnson, Paul Dawson and Harry Rhodes recovered from 8-1 down after five ends to level at 8-8 after 12 ends.

It was 11-11 after 15 ends but five successive winning ends for the visitors gave them a 21-12 win.

At Hull, Ray Clark, Kevin Fort, Tony Abbot and Ken Lippett were 14-2 down after only eight ends and lost 24-13.

Bob Edwards, David Birch, John Snowden and Tony Taylor won only two of the last 11 ends and lost 30-13.

Updated: 12:08 Thursday, February 21, 2002