SEVEN York bowlers starred as Yorkshire opened their 2011 Middleton Cup campaign with an emphatic victory over old rivals Lancashire.

The Tykes won the War of the Roses clash 20-2 on Bolton’s artificial green as they set out on their target of reaching the national finals in August.

The Yorkshire squad included Mike Bruce, John Walker, Mark Clarke, David Attwood and Paul Humphreys of York RI Amateurs Bowling Club, plus Holgate bowlers Phil Emmerson and Phil Parsons.

Of the six rinks on display for Yorkshire, five were successful with the team skippered by Chris Kelly, of Nafferton, failing to make it a full complement of victories.

The game was a tough opener for Yorkshire, but the squad rose to the occasion led by Mark Walton, Nigel Brignall and Vinnie O’Neil, who registered sizeable victories.

Also successful were the rinks led by Steve Slaughter and Humphreys, who secured tight victories against tough Lancashire opposition.

Humphreys’ team beat a rink including current England internationals Jason Parkinson and Mark Dawes, who both play for Manchester Commonwealth BC.

The victory puts Yorkshire in prime position to qualify from their group after Cumbria lost 14-8 to Lincolnshire, leaving Yorkshire six points clear at the top of the group.

The White Rose county’s remaining games are against Cumbria and Lincolnshire, both at their home venue of Dunnington on June 18 and July 9 respectively.

Yorkshire’s best performance in recent years was a runners-up spot in 2009 to Cornwall and the side are now in contention to qualify from their group and go one better in the national finals.