YORKSHIRE Ladies got their season off to a flying start in their pre-season friendly against the Civil Service, winning by 65 points at Almondbury Liberal Club.

The scores did not reflect the good bowling on display on an excellent green but in bitterly cold conditions, with the Civil Service team including many county players from other districts.

Particularly pleasing for Yorkshire was the introduction of a further two junior bowlers. Chloe Hirst (Halifax) and Chelsea Gilbert (Broad Oak) both won their games, as did fellow youngsters Chloe Ghaffer and Alicia Ormsby (Meltham), which indicates a promising future for the team.

Two other new additions to the squad were Lorraine Hirst (Linthwaite Hall), who also won her game, with Ann Smith (Meltham) being a reserve.

Yorkshire 247, Civil Service 182 (Yorkshire names first): Linda Gledhill (New Mill) 21, M Wrench 20; Marie Lockwood (New Mill) 21, J Clark 14; Karen Whitefoot (Marsh Utd) 21, A Gaunt 14; Karen Gant (Meltham) 16, L Daykin (Thongsbridge) 21; Suzanne Howarth (New Mill) 21, B Bonsall 17; Chloe Hirst (New Mill) 21, G Sutton 3; Chloe Ghaffer (Meltham) 21, L Cotton 20; Chelsea Gilbert (Broad Oak) 21, J Lord 17; Alicia Ormsby (Meltham) 21, L Hough 13; Lorraine Hirst (Linthwaite Hall) 21, J Butterworth 17; Carron McGrath (Linthwaite Hall) 21, H Clee 7; Julie Best (Marsh Utd) 21, R Lyon 19.

The Damart-sponsored Yorkshire won the Waterloo Cup last year and will be aiming to improve on this by winning the County Championship, with their campaign starting on Sunday against Wirral.

The home game will be played at Almondbury Liberal Club and the away team travel to Heswall British Legion, with both starting at 2pm.

Home team: Linda Gledhill (New Mill) v G Sheen, Karen Gant (Meltham) v A Brown, Marie Lockwood (New Mill) v S Astles, Karen Whitefoot (Marsh Utd) v S Lewis, Suzanne Howarth (New Mill) v I Brett, Chloe Ghaffer (Meltham) v L Mitchell, Chloe Hirst (Halifax) v M Lewis, Julie Best (Marsh Utd) v K Davies, A Ormsby (Meltham) v J Clark, Carron McGrath (Linthwaite Hall) v C Dunn, Julie Mallinson (Lockwood Con) v J Jones, Suzi Ladbrooke (Lockwood Con) v M Vickers.

Away team: Laura Middleton (New Mill) v M Gant, Alexis Lunn-Gadd (Ossett Flying Horse) v J Dewhurst, Nichole Farrar (Whitkirk) v L Gorman, Helen Gilroy (Rufford Park) v Margaret Browning, Dawn Bray (Ossett Flying Horse) v N Bunting, Debbie Davies (Pudsey) v J McElnay, Karen Hill (Ossett Flying Horse) v L Eccles, Maureen Chambers (Glasshoughton) v S Stanley, Viv Abel (Skipton Craven) v B McBurney, Andrea Buckley (New Mill) v A Richardson, Katie Turner (Cranmore) v J Stead, Sally Turner (Mirfield Old Bank) v K Smith.