YORKSHIRE'S crown green bowling team got off to a flying start in the Ladies' County Championship as they beat holders Shropshire by 53 points.

The teams met in the semi-finals last year but this time around Yorkshire's home team won at Meltham by 77 points, while the away team only lost at Wrockwardine Wood by 19 points.

Yorkshire's junior county captains Sophie Brown (Farnley Tyas) and Fern Beaumont (Paddock C&B) triumphed 21-4 and 21-10 respectively at Meltham, while Suzanne Howarth (New Mill) was another 21-4 winner.

On the away team, Sally Turner (Mirfield C&B) made a spirited fightback to win 21-18, while Sharon Gadd (West Park) – returning to the squad – and Joanne Speight (Cranmore) both emerged 21-13 winners.

Home – Yorkshire 239, Shropshire 162 (Yorkshire names first): Chloe Hirst (Halifax) 19 Sally Clee 21, Fern Beaumont (Paddock C&B) 21 Jane Archer 10, Karen Gant (Meltham) 18 Gill Chambers 21, Marie Lockwood (New Mill) 21 Shirley Jones 11, Linda Gledhill (captain, New Mill) 21 Lisa Neal 12, Alicia Beaumont (Meltham) 21 Jackie Rutter 11, Sophie Brown (Farnley Tyas) 21 Selina Oates 4, Suzanne Howarth (New Mill) 21 Angela Gaunt 4, Lynda Drury (New Mill) 21 Jodie Rutter 12, Suzie Ladbrooke (Lockwood Cons) 21 Clair Barker 17, Julie Mallinson (Lockwood Cons) 21 Cheryl Caswell 18, Julie Best (Marsh United) 13 Holly Bishton 21.

Away – Shropshire 225 Yorkshire 201 (Yorkshire names first): Alexis Lunn-Gadd (Ossett Flying Horse) 6 Sian Skelton 21, Nichole Farrar (Whitkirk) 19 Lisa Pessall 21, Dawn Bray (Ossett Flying Horse) 13 Alison Cotton 21, Viv Abell (Skipton Broughton Road) 17 Jen Rogers 21, Katie Turner (Rothwell) 15 Sonya Lucas 21, Helen Gilroy (Rufford Pak) 21 Natalia Connor 14, Joanne Speight (Cranmore) 21 Marg Fray 13, Sharon Gadd (West Park) 21 Pauline Wilson 13, Sally Turner (Mirfield C&B) 21 Pauline Grocott 18, Debbie Talbot (New Mill) 15 Louise Cotton 21, Andrea Buckley (captain, New Mill) 21 Carleen Doody-Millington 20, Jacquie Roper (Meltham) 11 Tracey Ryan 21.