YORK Vikings overcame a nine-point deficit from the away rinks to beat Selby 87-71 in Yorkshire Over-55s League division one, taking 12 of the 14 points on offer.

In Selby, York's John Whiteley, Malcom Harrison, Alan Hampshire and Ken Griffiths were up 10-4 after eight ends but lost the next eight, conceding 20 shots en route to a 25-14 defeat.

Jeff Normanton, Phil Parsons, Trever Wilford and Alan Vowles edged a close game in which the lead changed hands several times.

There were only two shots in it for the first 15 ends, Selby 13-11 up. York then drew a six and a one before Selby drew a four and a one, leaving it 18-18 with two ends to play. Selby took the next before York came back with a three on the final end to win 21-19.

At home, both York rinks made strong starts to quickly overturn the aggregate deficit.

Tony Horobin, Malcolm Lewers, Mick Cooney and Graham Instone were 8-2 up after five ends, and 17-2 up after 10, on the way to a comfortable 26-11 win.

Graham Brooke, Jim Robertson, Dudley Williams and Dave Dale were 15-1 ahead after only five ends, 19-6 ahead after 10 and 24-9 up after 15, before Selby closed to gap to 26-19 at the finish.

In division two, though, York Knights lost their derby against New Earswick Falcons 86-61 - the Huntington Road club taking all 14 points on offer.

At Huntington Road, Bob Elliot, Dave Kermode, Dick Osguthorpe and Bill Waldie beat Colin Robinson, Mal Rankeiller, Barry Walker and Tex Stevens 22-18 after a game of to and fro.

The home rink won seven of the first eight ends to lead 12-1 but York fought back, winning seven of the next nine, with a four putting them 17-14 up.

But the game swung again with Earswick scoring a two and two threes over the last four ends.

New Earswick had a second narrow home win, with Graham Lockwood, Barry Harrison, Colin Ellis and Mick Head edging Harley Wenham, Bill Carter, David White and Geoff Walker 15-14.

It was 10-9 after 14 ends and, although the Falcons stretched the lead to 15-9, York hit back to take the tie to the last end, trailing 15-13. They held one so Falcons skip Head put the last wood up his proverbial jumper.

At Thanet Road, Earswick's Dave Imeson, Graham Bell, Brian Birch and Barry Johnson beat Malcom Thompson, Ray Calpin, Trevor Scott and Tony Butterfield 19-15.

They scored a five at the second end but led only 6-4 after five. That opened out to 11-6 after 11 ends but the scores were level after 15 and again at 14-14 after 18 before the Falcons scored a three and a two to York's one.

Dave Sykes, Paul Murray, Brian Birch and Tony Abbot came from 5-1 down to Allen Clapham, Dave Holder, Pete Bradley and Ray Clark after four ends to take control of their match.

Two consecutive fours helped them go 13-6 up after 10 ends, and, although the Knights pulled it back to 14-11 after 14, the Falcons scored a six and a four on the way to a 30-14 win.

York Romans, meanwhile, struggled against leaders Harrogate, losing each rink in a 95-56 defeat.

Ron Munro, Terry Nicholson, Dave Berwick and John Munday battled hard to come back from 9-2 down to level at 9-9 after 10 ends and they even took the lead by the 14th.

However, nine shots without reply put the Harrogate rink clear and, despite another comeback, they won 20-16.

Steve Lea, Dave Preece, Alan Yoward and Ken Robinson, after an even start, struggled to keep pace with their opponents and, although they picked up some shots, these were singles as opposed to a cluster of shots when Harrogate scored.

The final score of 25-13 did not reflect the overall match play.

Mick Snowden, Noel Mallen, Norman Ellis and Andy Lockwood, after dropping nine shots in two ends to trail 10-5 after five, were unable to close the gap and a run of dropped shots over five ends took the game away, finishing 26-11.

Alan May, Dave Clarke, John Sandle and Pete Waring kept pace with their opponents before dropping a four at the ninth. They replied by scoring five over the next three ends but then dropped seven without reply, eventually losing 24-16.