THE year ended on a losing note for New Earswick Indoor Bowls Club as they went down to Harrogate in the Yorkshire Over-55s League.

The Huntington Road side's poor season continued as they took only four points to Harrogate's 12 points.

In the home legs, Dave Imeson, Colin Ellis, Brian Birch and skip Ralph Tiplady got off to a good start, picking up three at the first end against R Legate.

They led 7-3 after five ends, but dropped two singles and a five to trail 10-7 after eight ends.

At the halfway point, Earswick were 12-10 down. However, they picked up two threes and a two to lead 18-12 after 14 ends and went on to win 23-16.

In the other home match, Dave Sykes, Pat Inwood, Gordon Storey and Mick Head got off to a slow start against G Swift’s rink and were 12-4 down after eight ends.

Although they were never ever in the lead, they were only 18-17 down after 20 ends, but they dropped a three at the last end to lose 21-17.

In the away legs, Paul Murray, Vic Thompson, Graham Lockwood and Bill Waldie led 4-2 after four ends against B Skinner, only to drop a seven at the fifth end to go 9-4 down.

The two rinks swapped shots for the next four ends and New Earswick trailed 11-6 after nine ends.

Earswick then picked up ten shots at the next three ends to lead 16-11 after 12 ends, but they only got two shots to Harrogate’s 12 in the last nine ends to lose 23-18.

In the final leg, Bob Elliot, Dave Elcock, Alan Price and skip Barry Johnson picked up a five at the fourth end against P Sanderson to lead 7-3.

Harrogate won the next four ends, picking up ten shots, to lead 13-7, but New Earswick closed to 13-11 after 12 ends.

A close finish looked to be on the cards when Earswick picked up a three at the 14th end to make the score 15-14, but Harrogate picked up a five at the 15th end and a six at the last to win 28-18.