YORKSHIRE beat North Shropshire 20-11 in their opening match of the British Parks Crown Green Senior County Championship.

In the home match at Littlemoor Sports and Social Club, Yorkshire carded a 10-4 win, taking the aggregate by 48 chalks, with home bowler Craig Hebbard the pick of eight successes thanks to a 21-5 effort.

In the away match at Hadnall Bowling Club, Yorkshire made two late changes and, despite carding seven winners, lost the aggregate by 18 chalks but would still have been happy to leave North Shropshire with a 7-7 draw.

Starring for the away team were Peter Clark (Cross Roads) 21-11 and Matthew Jacques (Shipley Club) 21-12.

Home – Yorkshire 237 (10) North Shropshire 189 (4) (Yorkshire names first): Simon Walder (Whitkirk) 21 Martin Lloyd (District BC) 12, Neil Tordoff (Wyke) 16 Dave Gourlay (Bridgewater BC) 21, Tony Green (Whitkirk) 21 Cedric Bancroft (Woore BC) 17, Josh Mordue (Pudsey) 16 Ian McDonald (Woore BC) 21, Kristian Walder (Whitkirk) 21 Richard Pullen (Hanmer BC) 20, Craig Hebbard (Littlemoor) 21 Jack Butler (Hanmer BC) 5, David Southwell (Brighouse) 19 Jock Timlett (Nantwich Park Road BC) 21, Tony Riley (Brighouse) 21 Chris Stretch (Adderley BC) 14, Andrew Tate (Brighouse) 21 Greg Fordham (Bridgewater BC) 7, Stuart King (Asa Briggs) 18 Jack Hewitt (Malpas Sports) 21, Chris Mordue (Pudsey) 21 Andy Smith (Chester Road BC) 12, Richard Stockdale (Eccleshill) 21 Gary Beff (Woore BC) 18.

Away – North Shropshire 219 (7) Yorkshire 201 (7) (Yorkshire names first): Robbie Ellis (Shipley Club) 21 Keith Wall (Hodnet BC) 18, Dean Scarth (Pudsey) 21 Andrew Foster (Bridgewater BC) 14, Paul Wilczynski (Shipley Club) 21 Scott Moseley (Hadnall BC) 20, Tom Lawrence (Pudsey) 1 Tim Jordan (Hadnall BC) 21, Neil Mylan (Eccleshill) 14 Derek Wright (Wem United SC) 21, Matthew Jacques (Shipley Club) 21 Matt Beeston (District BC) 12, Peter Clark (Crossroads) 21 Jamie Brookes (Malpas Sports) 11, Brian Scarth (Pudsey) 1 Conner Whitehall (Adderley BC) 21, Andrew Gilroy (Eccleshill) 21 Tony Sherratt (Adderley BC) 19, Ian Jacques (Shipley Club) 18 Colin Smith (Wem United SC) 21, Ian Shaw (Pudsey) 21 Gary Whitehall (Adderley BC) 20, Paul Rooks (Eccleshill) 20 Adrian Smout (Bridgewater BC) 21.

* YORKSHIRE edged a 14-13 win over a strong East Midlands side in their opening match of the British Parks Crown Green Veterans' County Championship.

The white rose side could only manage five winners in the home match at Rufford, with Shipley Club bowler Mick Kane's 21-9 helping Yorkshire take the aggregate by 18 chalks to scramble a 7-7 draw.

In the away match at Stretton Anglesey, Yorkshire again carded only five winners, John Beverley (Asa Briggs) starring with a 21-8 as Yorkshire lost the aggregate by a single chalk.

It was still enough to ensure that Yorkshire took the three extra bonus points to seal the overall aggregate and ensure a narrow victory.

Home – Yorkshire 183 (6) East Midlands 165 (6) (Yorkshire names first): Mick Bastow (Ilkley) 15 Kevin Kelly-Walley (Belvedere) 21, Trevor Holliday (Negas) 15 David Fox (Derby Co-op) 21, Barry Turnbull (Clayton Victoria) 21 Alan Lewsley (Belvedere) 16, Paul Hillam (Eccleshill) 21 Grahame Bartter (Belvedere) 12, David Hemsley (Baildon) 18 Philip May (Belvedere) 21, Mike Kane (Shipley Club) 21 Clive Gascoigne (Henhurst Club) 9, Dave Norris (Guiseley) 21 Jim Shorthouse (Belvedere) 12, Graham Oliver (Guiseley) 18 Brian Varty (Stretton Anglesey) 21, Dave Rankin (Guiseley) 18 David Brennan (Netherseal) 21, Nino Esposito (Clayton Victoria) 15 David Redfern (Stretton Anglesey) 21.

Away – East Midlands 180 (7) Yorkshire 179 (5) (Yorkshire names first): Malcolm Fowler (Harold Club) 21 Graham Jones (Henhurst Club) 16, John Watson (Hanging Heaton) 18 Ron Wright (Stretton Anglesey) 21, John Stocks (Peel Park) 21 Dave Halstead (Littleover BC) 17, John Beverley (Asa Briggs) 21 Steve Atkin (Winshill BC) 8, Paul Hardy (Whitkirk) 8 Lawrence Stubbs (Stretton Anglesey) 21, Mick Armitage (Hanging Heaton) 18 Cliff Robinson (Littleover BC) 21, David Kaye (Rothwell) 21 Dave Press (Stretton Anglesey) 17, Christine Barker (Hove Edge) 11 Terry Bosworth (Netherseal) 21, Frank Griffin (Spen Victoria) 21 Ray Robinson (Rolleston BC) 17, Mick Maguire (Spen Victoria) 19 Ian Woodward (Netherseal) 21.