YORKSHIRE, with a strong contingent of York players, won the Battle of the Roses clash in the first round of the Liberty Trophy.

The competition was being staged under its new format of three rinks at home and three rinks away instead of playing at a neutral venue.

The match was evenly contested with only two shots separating the two counties at 58-56 in favour of Yorkshire after ten ends.

The advantage was extended to six shots five ends later when the score stood at 95-89 before Yorkshire finished well to win 135-121.

The home leg, played at Thanet Road, saw all three rinks winning easily with David Stroughair, Michael Bruce, Paul Humphreys and Philip Scott making the most of their local knowledge by winning 31-17.

Paul Mooring, Frank Turner, Eddie Howcroft and Featherstone's John Whiteley took control between the 15th and 18th ends when they scored ten shots without reply in their 25-16 success.

Iain Boyle, Graham Instone, Featherstone's Terry Whitelam and Hull's Dave Tooley held on to an eight shot advantage at 13-5 after ten ends to with 28-21.

The away leg at Blackpool Newton Hall saw all three Yorkshire rinks losing.

Ryedale's England international Mark Walton, whose rink included York's Kevin Davey, Scarborough's Alan Hodges and North Cave's Maurice Hebden, led 11-10 after 15 ends but three ends later trailed 18-12 which proved too much as they came back in vain, going down 19-16.

Thornaby's Paul Stoker's rink went down 20-19 after dropping a single on the last end, while the all-Thornaby team skipped by Gary Skipp were never in their game and went down 28-16.

York 'A' opened their EIBA Over 60s Double Rink Championship campaign with what should have been a tough fixture against Thornaby but proved to be anything but as they won by a mile.

After eight ends the aggregate score was 21-11 and finished 58-13 to York.

At home Charlie Bateman, Fred Clayden, Peter Long and Peter Littlewood lost four of the first six ends then only lost one more as they strolled home 26-8

Up at Thornaby Frank Turner, Graham Brooke, Eddie Howcroft and Dudley Williams only lost four ends as they slaughtered the home side 32-5.

York's Ladies weren't as successful as their male counterparts in their EWIBA Over 60s game at Huddersfield.

In a close game they led 18-16 after ten ends but eventually went out of the competition by only two shots.

Maureen Thomas, Clarice Johnston, Doreen Arnett and Brenda Love always had the edge in their 23-16 win.

But Melanie Brooke, Pat Bracken, Maureen Walker and Marjorie Elvidge lost their way between the tenth and 18th ends when they dropped ten shots and only scored two for themselves to trail 20-9, before losing 21-12.

Updated: 08:26 Thursday, November 04, 2004