York and District IBC started their defence of the Egham Trophy in the most unsatisfactory way with a walkover against Huddersfield.

The West Yorkshire team were unable to stage the home leg because of poor lighting and, after declining York's offer to stage all four rinks at Thanet Road, handed the game to York who go on to play Barnsley on Sunday, November 26.

York Ladies started their quest for honours in the Northern Eastern League with maximum points against North Cave, scoring a 101-63 win.

After being 10-10 after nine ends, Cath Blease, Norma Reed, Doreen Arnett and Jean Williams took control for the home side, defeating J Canty's team 35-12.

Also at York, Clarice Johnston, Pat Teasdale, Sylvia Walker and Sue Kirkpatrick fought back to win 24-20 against V Palmer's four after trailing 19-14 with only four ends to play.

At North Cave Margaret Smith's game against M Jackson ended 21-19 in York's favour.

Smith, Pat Lofthouse, Sue Grosvenor and Pat Ellis looked to have the game won at 14 ends, but the home team made an excellent comeback to go into the last end one shot up at 19-18, but a battling three gave York victory.

In the other game at North Cave, Pat Bracken, Maureen Robinson, Linda Mokes and Doreen Giles took the lead against L Saunders after five ends and never lost it, running out 21-12 victors.

Yorkshire had a fantastic 122-98 victory against a strong Nottinghamshire team in the Liberty Trophy, winning four of the six rinks.

David Stroughair's all-York team of New Earswick's Anthony Scruton and York's Mal Harrison and Stuart Bryan had a fine 18-13 win against P Talbot.

Iain Boyle's team, including York's Graham Brooke and Mick Parker, won 23-15.

Yorkshire now play Lincolnshire who overcame Lancashire at Thanet Road after being 82-86 down after 15 ends, eventually winning 130-111.

The Yorkshire v Lincolnshire match will be played at a neutral venue on Saturday, November 25.

The Nationals are now well underway with many teams already having one game under their belts.

In the men's fours, a strong York team of Charlie Bateman, Graham Instone, Gordon Smith and Paul Mooring were evenly matched against Hull's D Tooley, P Blackburn, J Gaze and P Oliver.

After 14 ends the score was tied at 10-10, three ends later York had opened a narrow two shot lead at 15-13, but then stepped up a gear to win 21-13.

Another strong York foursome competed in the mixed fours - Paul and Michelle Mooring and Josie and Mick Parker - but lost 22-21 at home to Ryedale's Nigel Watson, Tom and Alexis Nairn and Maureen Crossier.

York were losing 16-13 after 12 ends and Ryedale scored nine over the next four ends to take a 22-16 lead and although York won each of the remaining five ends, they couldn't gain more than a single on each and lost the match.

York's Melanie Brooke and Helen Walker had a scare in the ladies pairs against the Hornsea duo of Salvidge and Furniss, who held the York couple at 13-13 after eight ends.

Brooke and Walker scored a five to regain a lead which they never lost, winning 25-20.

There was a shock in the ladies triples where three of York's top players - Pat Napier, Dot Kennelly and Carol Instone - lost 20-16 to Hornsea, who took a commanding 15-1 lead after six ends which the York trio could not pull back.

However, the three York ladies joined with Linda Harrison and gained consolation with a 22-11 win in the ladies fours at Hull.

Saturday sees York and District face North Cave in the third round of the Denny Cup, New Earswick play Ryedale in the first round of the Denny Plate and New Earswick Ladies start their North Eastern League campaign against Hornsea (all noon).