FRANK Turner's York team was edged out in a sudden death decider in the Yoplait Men's All England Bowls Fours championship at Worthing.

Turner and his Haxby Road clubmates Harry Rhodes, Mick Corringham and Eddie Howcroft raced into an early 4-0 lead against 1999 English champions Kirk Smith's side from Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire in their first round clash.

Turner added a four three ends later to lead 8-3 and he was still firmly in the driving seat with five ends to play, holding a 14-8 advantage.

However, Smith staged a remarkable revival, pounding the York men with a double and two trebles over the next four ends, to inch ahead 16-15 going into the last end.

Turner and company clawed back a single to force the match in to a sudden death extra end... but it was Smith, calling upon his vast experience who landed the knockout punch, scoring a treble in the decider to edge through 19-16.

Updated: 11:00 Thursday, August 23, 2001