YORK and District won the Vivienne trophy, the English women's national inter-club bowls championship, when they saw off Egham, from Surrey 87-65 in the final at Desborough, Northamptonshire last night.

Margaret Smith led the charge for York, hitting back from 4-3 down after five ends against Olive Scrace, amassing 13 shots over six ends to power 16-5 ahead.

Scrace clawed back a double at the next end, but Smith was soon back in the groove, pounding her rival with a double and five successive singles to lead 23-7 and later adding another three shots to romp home 26-10.

Also fast into her stride was York's Joyce Gee, who rocketed 16-2 clear of Shirley Reay over the first nine ends.

Reay responded with two doubles, cutting the gap to 16-10, but Gee shook up the reins and injected some pace, scoring seven shots over five ends to lead 23-12 and later wrapping up the match 24-17.

Pat Bracken was poised to add another York win when she rampaged 17-7 ahead of Betty Crisp with just six ends to play...only to see Crisp come back with a Houdini-style escape, finding an amazing 12 shots on the run-in to snatch victory 19-18.

York's Clarice Johnston was involved in a close battle with Anne Pickin, who led 17-14 after 15 ends.

Johnston notched five shots over four ends to edge ahead 19-18, but Pickin swooped with a late single to force a 19-19 draw.

Updated: 10:23 Monday, March 22, 2004