Vivienne Trophy holders York showed steely nerve to beat Cambridge Chesterton on an extra end after the scores were tied 79-79.

With three rinks of the indoor bowls clash completed, Clarice Johnston's team, who were leading 17-16 going into their last end, needed another two shots to take the game into an extra end.

They laid three only for the opposing skip to kill the end. On the replayed end the Cambridge skip sent her first wood to leave them two ahead and looking comfortable only for Johnston to send the all-important shot to move the jack on to another York wood. The next shot went off line to give York the tie.

Pat Bracken's team played the extra end, which they won to send the York Ladies into the semi-final to play Acle from Norfolk at Grantham IBC on March 10.

Earlier, Bracken's side had been involved in a close game, which saw the lead swap six times before winning 19-18.

Joyce Gee's team did well to come back from a poor start which saw them trailing 9-1 and then 22-18 with two ends to play. A four, followed by a two, secured an excellent 24-22 victory. Margaret Smith's four lost 23-17, but most importantly won their last two ends scoring three shots.

Yorkshire Ladies League champions York finished their campaign on a high when they beat Harrogate 80-69 to extend their winning run to 22 games.

At home, Melanie Brooke's four got a seven on the seventh end to put them 12-3 ahead in their 21-16 victory, while Carol Instone's team pulled away on the 13th end after trailing 14-13, losing only one more end in their 27-15 win.

At Harrogate, Linda Harrison's rink dropped a five on the first end but they rallied to take the lead on the seventh end before clinching a 19-16 win.

Helen Walker's side lost the first six ends to trail 8-0. They were unable to pull back the deficit as they went down 22-13.

New Earswick's ladies finished their season with a 96-71 loss to North Cave with only Lys Jerrum's team getting a point thanks to a 15-15 draw after dropping a single on the last end.

Meanwhile, York only just hung on to the Hebden Trophy top spot on shots difference when they beat Scarborough 115-57 and amassed 18 points.

There was an amazing game at Scarborough where Brian Thomas' four were bombarded in the opening five ends to trail 16-0. They drew the next five ends 6-6 to start a sizzling comeback as they battled against a 24-17 deficit. In the last three ends they turned the tables thrillingly to prise out a 25-24 win.

New Earswick's hope of finishing top were hit as they only picked up 12 points from their narrow 77-76 victory against Thornaby to remain third. But they can still claim top spot if they beat Metrodome convincingly in their last game and York falter at Thornaby.

Updated: 08:43 Thursday, February 17, 2005