DEFENDING champions York and District Indoor Bowls Club just failed to retain the Egham Trophy when they were beaten in the final by Surrey outfit Cambridge Park at Lodden Vale IBC, Basingstoke.

York had faced the 1999 champions North Walsham, from Norfolk, in the last four in the morning and stormed into the final with all four rinks victorious.

They thus became the first defending champions to reach the following year's final.

However, they were unable to keep the trophy as Cambridge Park - losing finalists in 1996, 1997 and 1999 - finally got their hands on the prize with a 72-63 win.

Although both teams took reserves, both remained unchanged for the final.

After five ends York trailed 18-16, with the rink of Paul Mooring, Graham Brooke, Carol Instone and Dot Kennelly leading 7-6; the quartet of David Stroughair, Stuart Bryan, Joyce Chelin and Joan Jackson drawing 3-3; the foursome of Iain Boyle, Gordon Smith, Sue Kirkpatrick and Shirley Stacey drawing 4-4 and the team of Mick Parker, Dave Hewick, Melanie Brooke and Michelle Mooring 5-2 behind.

The game was still close five ends later with Park extending their lead to aggregate 33-30.

Boyle's team were now 9-6 up, Stroughair had edged ahead 6-5 and Parker had stemmed the flow to be 9-6 down, though Mooring was now trailing 13-9.

The game remained close up to 15 ends, but again Park increased their lead, to 52-48.

Boyle had had a great spell and was leading 17-8, but York's other three rinks were trailing, Stroughair's team now 13-7 down.

The difference told between the sides over the next three ends with Park extending their lead to nine shots, 64-57.

Boyle's lead had been reduced to 19-12, Parker had dropped six shots and only gained one to be losing 19-11, Stroughair was still losing by four at 15-11 and Mooring had reduced his arrears to 18-16.

With the four-hour time limit running out, two rinks managed to finish their games with Boyle hanging on to win 19-15.

However, Parker's team lost 22-14, time ran out on Mooring who trailed 20-18, and Stroughair's team, normally good finishers gained a single on the 19th end, but then were beaten by the time rule, their final score being 15-12 to Cambridge Park.

York thus ended their unbeaten run of 17 games, but it was still a gallant effort.

In the semi-final, Boyle's rink had started superbly and led 7-1 after five ends. They kept this going to finish 25-13 winners.

Stroughair's four had an equally good win, taking control between the tenth and 15th ends when they extended their lead from 9-5 to 17-9.

Their opponents briefly came back but couldn't stop the York side winning the last three ends to take the game 22-12.

Parker's quartet were in control up to the 15th end leading 17-8, and although their opponents made a spirited comeback, it wasn't enough with the York rink winning 19-15.

Mooring's team had the closest game though this was only thanks to North Walsham's scoring six shots in the last three ends to reduce the deficit to 20-17.

York had been well in control from start to finish and won the game 86-57 on aggregate.

In the other semi-final Cambridge Park had beaten Brighton outfit Preston.

Updated: 12:49 Tuesday, March 27, 2001