YORK and District Indoor Bowls Club scored a crucial 15-0 whitewash against New Earswick in the Famous Grouse Top Ten Tournament.

With Hull 'B' gaining maximum points against New Earswick earlier this month it was vital for York to maintain their lead at the top of the group.

Stuart Bryan set things rolling with a 21-15 win in the singles against Ken Lippett at Huntington Road. Iain Boyle's rink had a magnificent win against Mal. Beavers team in the Fours, coming from 12-11 down at ten ends to win 33-18 with only 19 ends possible in the three hour game.

At Thanet Road, David Stroughair's team won 24-8 after taking an 18-3 lead after only ten ends against Tony Abbot's rink. Paul Mooring and Graham Instone won 23-8 against John Snowden in the pairs.

York have dropped only two points from their three games and lead the table with 43 points.

York's Peter Littlewood was beaten for the first time in nearly two years in the Yorkshire Over 55s League. His team lost because of a "dead end" as the three hour time limit expired. Littlewood's rink held two shots before North Cave killed it with their last wood and took the game 14-13.

Fred Clayden's team won 25-16 to give York a home aggregate of 38-30 and an eight-shot advantage to take into the away leg.

York Ladies had a 102-67 aggregate victory against North Cave thanks to winning both rinks in the home leg.

Carol Instone's team won 40-7, while Melanie Brooke's team eased to a 29-9 victory.

Linda Harrison's rink lost 13 shots between the 10th and 15th ends at North Cave and that proved to be a telling factor as they went from 8-8 to lose 27-20. Sue Chilton's team went from 10-7 up to lose 24-13.

York picked up six points to North Cave's four to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

New Earswick Ladies had a great 85-52 win against Featherstone in the same league winning three rinks and losing one.

At home Maureen Wood's rink led 16-4 after 12 ends before the visitors pulled back to 18-14 with two ends to play. The home side got a single on the remaining two ends to take the game 20-14.

Gill Clark's team were beaten 20-16 after leading 15-12 with five ends to play.

Brenda Keller's rink won 27-6 at Featherstone, who scored only singles on their winnings ends. In the other rink Margaret Moss' team won 22-12.

New Earswick picked up eight points to Featherstone's two to keep up their unbeaten run in their group.

York's run in the Ladies National Over 60s Double Rinks Championship came to an end at the hands of neighbours Selby.

Pat Wilson's rink nearly won after trailing for most of the game. They lost only 18-17. The damage had already been done in Anita Haw's game, when home side Selby pulled clear after the fourth end when they led 5-3 to the tenth end when they had extended this lead to 14-3.

The final score was 27-12 to Selby who won the match 45-19 on aggregate and now travel to Carlisle to play Cumbria in the next round.

York's Under 18s team had an excellent game against last year's title holders Thornaby, going down 21-19 on aggregate.

Phil Scott, Josh Cahill and Neil Wilkinson won their last three ends to claim a 10-6 victory. In the other rink Lam Cahill, Philip Herridge and Adam Liddell led 8-4 but the home side won all but one of the remaining ends to take the game 15-9. York collected two points and Thornaby four.

Updated: 12:03 Thursday, November 22, 2001