IAN Hinder managed to capture the scalp of Yorkshire county cap Fraser Kelley in the singles, but could not prevent York from slipping to a 20-16 defeat at the hands of East Riding in the Yorkshire Inter-district Union match at Bridlington.

Hinder (The York) triumphed two and one against the Ganton star as York, 8-4 down after the foursomes, made a great comeback by winning the top four singles.

Another strong performance came from Pike Hills' Martin Brown, who beat former England Boys international Richard Coulson one up.

But Alan Wright (Hessle), a former county stroke-play winner, beat M Garland (The Oaks) 6 and 5 to get East Riding back in front and they eventually won by four points, though it has to be remembered that the York side were without the services of Fulford's Steve Dunn, Kevin Miller, Phillip Collier, Jonathan Plaxton, Philip Walton and Steve Mitchell.

Miller, Dunn and Collier were all playing in the Fulford club championships, while Walton is recovering from a broken arm.

York, who finished bottom last season, are showing much better form this term and, with the obvious exception of Walton, the Fulford players will retake their places in the side for the next outing against the Inter-district championship table leaders Sheffield at Strensall a week tomorrow.

Sheffield were in strong form as Harrogate were thrashed 34-2 by the county champions at Sitwell Park.

It took a strong effort from Bedale's Steve Whitwham to save Harrogate from a whitewash with a hard earned singles victory.

Bradford beat Halifax-Huddersfield 20-16 at Brighouse course Willow Valley, and Teesside triumphed 20-16 against Leeds at Scarcroft.

York Union (v Sheffield): Jonathan Plaxton, Kevin Miller, Steve Dunn, Philip Collier, Stephen Mitchell (all Fulford), Neil Smith (Malton and Norton), Martin Brown (Pike Hills), Ian Hinder (The York), Neil Thompson (Scarthingwell), James Duckett (Boothferry), Stephen Lockwood and Jim Batt (Heworth). Reserves: Darren Rix (Malton and Norton), Andrew Bell (The York), Russ Chilton (Pike Hills).