YORK Indoor Bowls Club's expected tough encounter against Featherstone in the first round of the Egham Trophy failed to materialise as they won 114-51 led by Dave Stroughair's outstanding rink.

They led 13-0 after only four ends and scored a seven on the tenth as they strolled through their game to win 40-6, while Iain Boyle's team also capped a fine performance with a six on the last end for a 30-10 win.

At Featherstone, Gordon Smith's side also scored a seven, this time on the 16th end to completely demoralise their opponents en route to a 28-17 success. York will face Metrodome (Barnsley) in the next round.

New Earswick had a disappointing start to their Evans Property Group Yorkshire League campaign losing 93-67 to Doncaster and only picking up two points from a possible 18.

The only winning rink was Dave Birch, Anthony Scruton, Mal Farmery and Bill Chittock, who pulled away with three winning ends when the scores were tied at 16-16 after 17 ends. They won 21-16.

At Doncaster, Mal Beavers, Barry Johnson, Dave Kermode and Dennis Ellis dropped a two on the last end to lose 19-17, this after countering from a 17-8 deficit with seven to play.

However, there was some consolation in the Hebden Trophy when they beat Selby 81-79, thanks to all four rinks winning their last ends.

The highlight was Barry Harrison's away rink which included Alan Spencer, Mick Doherty and Bill Dring. They trailed 9-2 before scoring a six on the seventh end. Down 13-8 three ends later, they rallied to take ten of the remaining 11 ends and win 26-15.

Defending champions York also started their Hebden Trophy season with a win when they beat Metrodome 105-69 picking up 12 points. Both home rinks won convincingly.

York's 'B' team gained their first win of the season in the Yorkshire Over-55s League as they beat local rivals New Earswick 76-73. They collected 13 points from two winning rinks and one drawn.

At Thanet Road, Dennis Haw's team won the last five ends to come from 16-9 down to level at 16-16 against Barry Johnson's rink. Over at Huntington Road, Bob Edwards' team looked to have gained the advantage as they picked up a single on the 19th to lead 17-16, but Tony Bryan's rink scored singles on the last two ends to take the game 18-17.

New Earswick had had a fantastic 91-69 aggregate victory against Selby picking up 13 points thanks to three winning rinks. The away aggregate was drawn.

York's 'A' team completed their task against Selby as they won both home rinks quite easily to take the aggregate 87-59 and amass 14 points. They now look odds-on to retain their division one title, having only dropped eight points from their three games so far this season.

Updated: 09:17 Thursday, November 25, 2004