CHAMPIONS York suffered their first defeat in the Yorkshire League since April 1998 when they lost their division one game 80-76 to Huddersfield.

Michael Bruce, Graham Brooke, Ted Boyle and Dudley Williams were well in control at Thanet Road, leading 9-0 after six ends and 14-5 after 13 ends to only just get home 17-16.

Iain Boyle, Paul Humphries, Dean Moss and Phil Parsons had a perfect start when they scored a six on the third end to lead 7-3. But they were hit by 12 shots without reply as they slumped to a 25-19 defeat.

York made inroads at Huddersfield as Phil Emmerson, Frank Turner, Eddie Howcroft and Peter Littlewood won 24-18, but David Stroughair, John Emmerson, Mal Harrison and Philip Scott yielded a 10-7 lead to lose 21-16 and leave York with just six points.

New Earswick started their division two campaign in fine form beating Doncaster 115-56.

Bob Edwards, Ray Clark, Mick Stannard and Steve Long played a large part in the victory, losing only three ends at Doncaster as they strolled home 39-3. At home, the rink of Paul Dawson, Dave Coulson, Ken Lippett and Dennis Ellis romped to a 39-10 victory.

The other New Earswick two rinks lost with Gary Bunce, Dave Birch, John Snowden and Ron Newton's excellent fightback at Huntington Road proving in vain. From 20-12 down they got to the last end 21-20 but dropped a three to lose 23-21.

At Doncaster, Ken Harrison, Bill Waldie, Brian Gray and Dave Kermode lost the last five ends to go down 20-16 but New Earswick collected 14 points to Doncaster's four.

Iron-hand hold

Hebden Trophy holders York got off to a flier when they beat Selby 98-48 to garner 16 points.

At home, Eric Hodgson, Tony Bryan, Phil Herridge and Doug Mitchell showed no mercy as they cantered to an emphatic 41-4 win, while Dennis Haw, Gordon Walker, Mike Pearce and Ken Patterson were involved in a thriller which saw them trail 19-15. They laid five on the last with only Haw to play his wood, but he moved the jack to give the visitors two shots and a 2-15 win.

At Selby, Alwyn Johnson, Dave McCowan, Tom Ellis and Dave Dale were in full control of a one-sided game they seized 33-10, while Brian Thomas, Alwyn Redhead, Norman Vause and Ken Hutson came from 6-2 down to triumph 20-13.

New Earswick posted an impressive 92-70 section 'B' win over Doncaster for a 14-point haul.

At home, Barry Harrison, Phil Reeves, Alan Spencer and Ray Bowman had a great start leading 14-0 after only six ends en route to a 29-11 success.

Ten shots without reply proved the turning point in the 26-14 win for Mal Beavers, Jim Bone, Bryan Arundale and Albert Wilson.

Bob Howland, Graheme Watson, Dave Hutchinson and Ron Wood had an awful start at Doncaster, dropping a six on the first end but staged a feisty come-back to overhaul a 25-13 deficit with five ends left to win 26-25.

No such joy for Ken Plowman, Dave Sykes, Gordon Storey and Brian Hardcastle, who lost 20-16 in a poor finish.

Seven-up haul

New Earswick remain unbeaten in the North Eastern League after beating last season's winners Scarborough 89-60 to gain seven points.

Lyz Jerrum, Peggy Walker, Margaret Pearson and June Barker lost only five ends as they easily won 31-6. Maureen Wood, Moyra Headley, Maureen Wilson and Pat Walker let a 17-13 lead slip but hung on for a draw.

Over at Scarborough, Margaret Moss, Kath Sykes, Barbara Brigham and Pat Lancaster were never threatened as they won 27-16 but Gill Clark, Diane Hardy, Maureen Cooper and Kath Hardcastle were on the back foot throughout a 21-14 reverse.

'B'-line caves in

York's 'B' team went out of the EIBA Over 60s' double rink championship, losing 51-34 to North Cave.

At home, Dennis Haw, Noel Cammidge, John Berridge and Dennis Brown nearly pulled off an excellent comeback. Trailing 23-2 after 11 ends they won all the remaining ends only to be pipped 23-22, while away, Geoff Oglesby, Alwyn Johnson, Norman Vause and Charlie Arnett went down 28-12.

Updated: 09:00 Thursday, December 04, 2003