THE Yorkshire Ladies indoor bowls team, who have appeared in two of the last three Atherley Trophy finals, started this season's trophy campaign with a 123-105 victory against Nottinghamshire at Lincoln Indoor Bowls Club.

Yorkshire won four rinks and drew one.

Seven of the players in Yorkshire's team were from York and District Indoor Bowls Club and four were from the New Earswick club.

Melanie Brooke was third to Lynn Metcalfe who, after being 4-3 down after five ends, took command to win comfortably 25-13.

Sue Chilton skipped another successful rink thanks to a great fightback after being 17-7 down.

With ten ends gone they crept back into the game, allowing their opponents to score only another four shots while they scored 16 to win 23-21.

Pat Walker was leading for Norma Shaw's rink, who held on to a great start which saw them 9-1 in front after five ends.

The scores were level at 13-13 after 15 ends but the White Rose Ladies came good again as they won 23-19.

Jeanette Coulson was leading for Beryl Alderson's rink, who had gained the initiative in a close game by leading 17-13 with three ends to play. They managed to hold off their opponents to win the game 18-16.

Linda Harrison, Ella Shipley, Gill Clark and Dot Kennelly fought their way back into the game after being 9-4 down with ten ends gone and 11-9 behind after 15.

Three three ends later they were ahead 14-12, but the Nottinghamshire Ladies came back again to level the scores at the finish 15-15.

Carol Instone, Margaret Moss, June Clayton and Joan Jackson were involved in another thriller.

After being 15-14 up with 15 ends gone they lost five shots without reply over the following three ends. They tried to get back into the game but to no avail losing 21-19.

New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club scored a great 88-77 win in their Famous Grouse Top Ten game against Hornsea, their first win in the competition. New Earswick picked up 13 points from this victory.

Playing at New Earswick, Bob Edwards put up a brave fight in the singles but went down 21-18.

However, the points for the home aggregate were secured by the Fours team of Ray Clark, Kevin Fort, Dave Sykes and Harry Rhodes.

They managed to score from only seven ends but got some high shots including a six, five and a four in their 25-19 win.

At Hornsea, Bill Waldie, Barry Harrison and Joe Cooper won the last five ends of their triples game after being 17-11 down to win 22-17.

The score flattered the home team who had scored a seven on the 12th end followed by a three.

In the pairs, John Snowden and Dave Birch built up a commanding lead at 15-6 after 11 ends, but this was pegged back to 15-15 three ends later. Within another two ends they found themselves trailing by two at 19-17, but then got their act together to win 23-20.

Updated: 12:03 Thursday, December 27, 2001