FOR the second year running York indoor bowls team went out of the Top Ten Tournament at the play-off stage when they were well beaten by Stanley 88-42, losing all four types of play.

Due to Iain Boyle's success with his father Ted in the Father and Son National Championship a late change had to be made to York's team.

David Stroughair moved into the Singles, but he couldn't get into the game after dropping threes on the first two ends and lost 21-9.

In the Fours, Michael Bruce, Graham Brooke, Eddie Howcroft and Phil Parsons were in with a shout at 7-5 down after eight ends. But then they lost seven of the following nine ends, dropping 22 shots, and went down 29-9.

At home, Paul Mooring and Graham Instone lost the last four ends after being 11-9 up and went down 16-11.

In the Triples, Phil Emmerson, Frank Turner and Philip Scott were hit with a five on 11th end to go 16-10 down and never got back into their game and lost 22-13.

York lost their Yorkshire League crown after a poor display in their last league game of the season ,which saw them lose 77-72 to new champions Featherstone.

York needed to pick up 17 points to retain the title but managed to get only four.

York's only winning rink came was at home, Paul Mooring, Graham Brooke, Paul Humphries and Josh Cahill overturning a 9-5 deficit at halfway into a 26-13 victory aided by fives on the 12th and 16th ends.

Phil Emmerson, Frank Turner, Barry Walker and Philip Scott were leading 10-5 after six ends, but then lost ten of the following 12 ends to trail 20-13. They then won the last three and just missed out on a point by a measure, the final score being 20-19.

Playing away, Michael Bruce, Mal Harrison, Eddie Howcroft and Graham Instone were tied at 6-6 at halfway before losing five of the next six ends, dropping 13 shots, which gave them too much to do and they lost 20-13.

David Stroughair, Mick Parker, Dudley Williams and Phil Parsons had a good first half but lost 24-13.

New Earswick, not in action, lost out on promotion in division two after Hornsea beat Doncaster to join Ryedale as the teams going up.

New Earswick's Yorkshire Over-55s League team went down 81-56 to Featherstone, losing all four rinks.

At home, Jim Bone, Barry Harrison, Mick Stannard and Ray Bowman just failed to get a point after scoring only a single on their last end and went down 21-20.

Barry Johnson, Ralph Tiplady, Albert Wilson and Brian Hardcastle trailed 15-12 with three ends to go after coming back from 15-7 down, but they lost all three ends and the game 22-12.

Away from home, Ken Harrison, Dave Sykes, Bryan Arundale and Mick Doherty led 14-11 with three ends to go, but they too lost all three and the game 15-14.

Bob Howland, Graeme Watson, David Pearson and Ron Wood won the first two ends to lead 3-0, but lost the next six to be 11-3 behind. They were left chasing the game to no avail as they went down 23-10.

York reach trophy final while New Earswick wait in hope

York Indoor Bowls Club team guaranteed their place in the Hebden Trophy final after beating Hornsea 109-65 to top their group.

At home, Alwyn Johnson, Dave Dale, Phil Herridge and Norman Vause scored a seven on the first end and a six on the last as they won 31-21.

Dennis Haw, Geoff Walker, Ron Kirkpatrick and Ken Patterson scored a seven on the tenth end in a winning streak which brought them 17 shots to only two against from six ends in a game they won 32-17.

Away from home, Eric Hodgson, Alwyn Redhead, Tom Ellis and Doug Mitchell trailed 7-0 after four ends and were still behind with two ends to play, but a single followed by a three saw them take the lead for the first time to win 16-14. Brian Thomas, Tony Bryan, Noel Mallen and Ken Hutson coasted home 30-13.

The final is at North Cave club on Sunday, March 28.

New Earswick's Hebden Trophy team, needing only three points to guarantee a final place, picked up only two as rivals Featherstone trounced them 103-54.

New Earswick's only winning rink was Ken Plowman, Dave Sykes, Gordon Storey and Brian Hardcastle. They led 8-0 after five ends and went on to win 27-14 scoring fives on the 12th and 20th ends.

New Earswick now have to rely on Ryedale winning one rink in their match against Featherstone on Saturday to get a place in the final against York.

Maximum reward seals league title

York won Yorkshire Ladies Indoor Bowls League with a game to spare when they beat League leaders North Cave 88-60, picking up the maximum ten points.

At home, Melanie Brooke, Maureen Thomas, Jean Williams and Trish Stevens led 11-3 after five ends and went on to win 23-13.

Sheila Turpin, Trish Harrison, Cath Blease and Marjorie Elvidge scored a five on the first end and dropped seven shots over the last four ends, but they had already done enough to secure a 26-16 victory.

Away from home, Linda Harrison, Betty Richardson, Maureen Walker and Dot Kennelly pulled away on the 16th end after trailing 12-11 to lead 17-12 three ends later and went on to win 21-15.

Carol Instone, Sue Kirkpatrick, Marilyn Andrews and Joyce Chelin always had the upper hand in a close game which they won 18-16.

Updated: 10:35 Thursday, March 04, 2004