YORK'S Ladies did it again as they reached the quarter-finals of the Yetton Trophy for the second time in three years, a trophy they won in 2000.

This time it was at the expense of Darlington, who lost 88-69.

The game was tight after ten ends with the aggregate score standing at 37-36 in Darlington's favour but a burst of 33 shots to 12 swung the game in York's favour.

At home Carol Instone, Sue Kirkpatrick, Brenda Love and Joan Jackson were 6-0 down after two ends but got a five to get back.

With the score at 8-6 in the away team's favour Instone's rink won seven consecutive ends scoring 16 shots in the process to put the game beyond Darlington's reach.

Linda Harrison, Melanie Brooke, Joyce Chelin and Ena Neal were 11-6 down after ten ends before scoring ten over the next four ends. The away team got back to within one shot but a five gave the home side the edge towards an eventual 25-16 win.

At Darlington Sue Chilton, Trish Harrison, Maureen Walker and Madge Zimnoch were involved in a tight game. Trailing 7-5 they posted a magnificent end to gain seven shots before winning 28-15.

In the other rink there was a surprise as Pat Napier, Sue Tomlinson, Maureen Thomas and Dot Kennelly struggled to keep up with their opponents. They only dropped more than a two on one end - a three - as they lost 22-9.

In the North-East League York failed to get the big points' win against leaders Selby to keep their chances of winning their group alive.

At home Joyce Gee, Doreen Arnett, Pat Ellis and Pat Lofthouse had a brilliant 35-14 victory scoring a six and a five on the wa.

Margaret Smith, Doreen Fennell, Ann Fowler and Ann Sharpley were in a good position, 18-12 up with six ends to play. But they lost all but one and the game 22-19.

At Selby Cath Blease, Marilyn Andrews, Ella Armitt and Norma Reed had an excellent 27-16 win but the rink of Pat Bracken, Clarice Johnston, Jean Williams and Maureen Robinson lost 39-11, dropping 14 shots in the last three ends.

New Earswick moved to within three points at the top of the same group, despite losing 86-81 to Scarborough.

At home Shirley Hopwood, Audrey Shingles, Joan Lister and Norah Clarkson won 29-14.

Peggy Walker, Diane Hardy, June Barker and Ann Thompson led 22-8, but dropped 11 shots, before winning 22-19.

At Scarborough Margaret Moss, Maureen Cooper, Margaret Matthews and Dot Kay found themselves 17-3 down before losing 26-18.

Lys Jerrum, Barbara Brigham, Kath Hardcastle and Margaret Blows lost 27-12.

York's Frank Turner, appearing in his second consecutive National Over 60s' singles finals at Nottingham, beat Barry Slatter from Oxford 21-15, then Geoff Plaskett from Scunthorpe before bowing out in the quarter-finals 21-9 to Harry Wood (Essex ).

Dot Kennelly and Sharon Clipperton won through to the area finals of the general pairs after beating last year's winners J & N Cammock 15-14.

Melanie Brooke, Brenda Love, Joyce Chelin and Trish Stevens lost 24-21 in their fours area final, while New Earswick's Jeanette Coulson went out Cumbria's Cindy Edmondson 21-14.

Updated: 11:52 Thursday, February 14, 2002