YORK suffered only their second defeat in nearly three years of Egham Trophy competition when they lost 85-73 to Huddersfield.

Last year's beaten finalists at Basingstoke, York were well in contention when the scores were level at 57-57 after 15 ends.

But they lost their way in the later stages as they dropped ten shots away and five at home when scoring just eight shots.

The York home quartet of Paul Mooring, Graham Brooke, Carol Instone and Dot Kennelly clawed their way back from 11-4 down to level at 15-15 but ended up defeated 23-17.

Iain Boyle, Michael Bruce, Sue Kirkpatrick and Shirley Stacey made a determined effort after being 20-10 down but lost 20-18.

York's only winning rink was at Huddersfield where David Stroughair, Stuart Bryan, Maureen Thomas and Joyce Chelin were well in control after 13 ends with a 21-8 lead but, crucially, Huddersfield battled back and only lost by two shots.

Gordon Smith, Dave Hewick, Melanie Brooke and Michelle Mooring saw a 17-15 lead evaporate with four ends remaining and lost 23-17.

York and District IBC ladies kept the club's hopes alive for some silverware with an emphatic 104-71 victory against neighbours New Earswick in the Yetton Trophy.

York, winners in 2000, made an excellent start at Huntington in the shape of Pat Napier, Sue Tomlinson, June Clayton and Dot Kennelly as they led 16-6 after 13 ends.

But New Earswick's Brenda Keller, Shirley Hopwood, Mavs Hardcastle and June Barker battle back to square the match at 18-18 with one end to go. York's experience proved vital at this stage as they edged home 20-18.

Maureen Wood, Moyra Headley, Clarice Robinson and Kath Hardcastle seemed well set as New Earswick scored a two and a five to start against their York opponents.

But the visiting foursome of Carol Instone, Sue Kirkpatrick, Ann Redhead and Joan Jackson stemmed the tide and romped to a 32-18 victory.

At Thanet Road, Sue Chilton, Mary Wreglesworth, Maureen Walker and Madge Zimnock were in top form against Jeanette Coulson, Kath Sykes, Maureen Shorrocks and Norah Clarkson, winning 30-17 for York.

The final clash was much closer as New Earswick's Gill Clark, Pat Walker, Carol Pink and Dot Kay were edged out 22-18 by Linda Harrison, Melanie Brook, Joyce Chelin and Lynda Parker after York held a one shot lead after 15 ends.

York youngsters Liam Cahill, 14, and Philip Scott, 15, were members of the Yorkshire 'B' team who beat Nottinghamshire 'B' 132-105 at Selby.

Scott was leading for Tim Whitelam's rink who won a final end battle 15-14, while Cahill was partnered with New Earswick's Mick Stannard and Dave Birch in Barry Holiday's team who were edged out 22-21, also in the last end.

New Earswick were well represented by Ray Clark's rink which also included Bill Waldie and Harry Rhodes and had a comfortable 23-16 win.

Yorkshire president and New Earswick chairman Barry Johnson skipped his rink to a 28-19 victory.

New Earswick Ladies returned to winning ways with an 88-73 victory over Harrogate in the Yorkshire Ladies League.

Brenda Keller's rink were facing a tough finish when her opponents came from 18-8 down to within three points at 18-15 but a run of five winning ends scoring 13 points put the game beyond doubt. The final score was 31-18.

The other home rink saw Maureen Wood's team win comfortably 22-11.

At Harrogate, Gill Clark's team were facing defeat at 20-18 down with two ends to go. However, a three on the following end edged them in front and victory was made certain with a single on the last to win the game 22-20.

Margaret Moss's rink struggled after the 12th end when the score stood at 12-10 to the home side and eventually went down 24-13. New Earswick picked up eight of the ten points at stake.

In the same competition, York and District Ladies let slip a good lead over Thornaby. With the games staggered, it was essential for York to make a good start in the earlier home encounter.

Things started well for York as Linda Harrison's rink led 27-8 and Pat Wilson's 20-14 both after 16 ends. At the same time, Melanie Brooke's team were drawing 3-3 at Thornaby, while Carol Instone's rink were 13-4 down after four ends.

But then the wheels came off as the home team failed to win another end, losing 24 shots in the process. Harrison's team held on 27-24 but Wilson's lost 21-20, while at Thornaby Instone lost 36-18 and Brooke's team went down 31-10 as York picked up just two points from the game.

York 'A' suffered a heavy defeat at Selby 'A' in the EIBA Over-60s Double Rinks Championship.

The York rink of Dennis Haw, Alwyn Redhead, Alan Storey and John Borridge were never in the game after trailing 8-0 after five ends and finally lost 24-11.

In contrast, the other York rink of Brian Thomas, Alwyn Johnson, Geoff Oglesby and Ken Patterson were 8-0 up after five ends but after a see-saw battle lost 25-15.

New Earswick's juniors had a fantastic 47-18 aggregate win in the Yorkshire Under-18s League against Selby, mainly thanks to the rink of Stephen Long, Robert Domville and Nick Ollis, who won 32-2.

The other rink of Alistair Domville, Michael Ollis and Tom Aveyard were tied 15-15 going into the last end but lost by a single shot. New Earswick picked up four points to Selby's two.

Updated: 11:54 Thursday, December 13, 2001