YORK'S Ladies maintained their 100 per cent winning start to the Yorkshire League season as they thrashed Ryedale 104-43 picking up the maximum ten points at stake.

Melanie Brooke, Betty Richardson, Norma Reed and Trish Stevens converted a 9-5 lead to an easy 29-11 victory at home.

Sheila Turpin, Trish Harrison, Jean Williams and Joyce Chelin sealed their game by the 14th end when they led 18-6, although they lost four of the next five ends, they won comfortably 22-12.

At Ryedale, Linda Harrison, Maureen Walker, Marilyn Andrews and Dot Kennelly scored a magnificent seven on the ninth end to lead 14-3 in the middle of a run of 11 winning ends out of 12 yielding 25 shots on their way to an impressive 30-10 victory.

Carol Instone, Sue Kirkpatrick, Maureen Thomas and Brenda Love made it a clean sweep, winning 23-11 after building up a 17-3 lead.

York were in fantastic form as they gained maximum points from their Yorkshire Over 55s League Division One fixture with last season's Division Two runners-up Featherstone.

York stormed home 105-56 to collect 18 points with Fred Clayden, Dave McCowan, Noel Cammidge and Ken Patterson setting the pattern at home with an easy 27-11 victory.

Peter Littlewood, Alwyn Redhead, Tom Ellis and Doug Mitchell were trailing 5-4 after four ends before a run of 11 winning ends gave them an 18-7 advantage. After that honours were even as Littlewood's rink won 22-11.

At Featherstone, Frank Turner, Graham Brooke, Tex Stevens and Dudley Williams were at their best. After losing singles on the first three ends they scored 16 shots without reply over the next four ends and went on to win 34-15.

Eric Hodgson, Barry Walker, Mike Pearce and Ken Hutson looked to have the game won at 18-12 after 15 ends, but the home side came back with a string of four winning ends to lead 19-18 with two to play. The scores were levelled on the next before Hodgson turned the head from four shots down to three to the visitors with his last wood to win 22-19.

York's Second Division team were also in action, playing the home leg of their game against Selby, winning 56-28 on aggregate.

Alwyn Johnson, Mick Smith, Ron Kirkpatrick and Colin Sharpley had a fantastic start as they moved into a 17-1 lead after only seven ends and eventually finished with an emphatic 36-10 victory.

There was a much closer game in the other rink of Dennis Haw, John Headley, Alan Clapham and Harley Williams, who pulled back a 15-9 deficit to claim a 20-18 win.

Honours were even in the Yorkshire Under 18s Division One top of the table clash between second placed York and leaders Hornsea at Thanet Road. The match finished 25-25 on aggregate.

Phil Herridge, Adam Liddell and Zoe Eagles were in a game where singles were scored on all but two ends as they ran out 12-5 winners.

Paul Humphries, Adam Tattersall and Liam Henderson had a good start when they led 7-1 after four ends but then they lost the next three dropping a six to trail 10-7 and eventually lost 20-13.

At the halfway stage of the season Hornsea lead with 21 points, one point ahead of York who are 14 points ahead of third-placed Thornaby.

New Earswick picked up their first points of the season with a superb 32-8 win at Thornaby to move off the bottom of the table.

Rob Domville, Mike and Johnny Ollis only lost two ends as they strolled to an easy 15-2 victory. Steve Long, Nick Ollis and Lewis Ashton won the first six ends to lead 10-0 as they also had a comfortable time winning 17-6, helping New Earswick to maximum points.

York's Denny Cup fourth round tie against Ryedale on Saturday will now start at 10am at both Norton and Thanet Road.

Updated: 08:40 Thursday, November 20, 2003