Yorkshire take lead at English
county finals by beating Warwicks

Title-holders Yorkshire beat Warwickshire 8½-½ to move into the lead in the finals of the English counties championship at Long Ashton in Gloucestershire.
The defending champions are the only team to have scored two wins from two matches.
In the day’s other games, Leicestershire staged a remarkable fightback to halve with Hertfordshire while Sussex beat Dorset 7-2.
It means that after two days Yorkshire have two points, Leicestershire and Hertfordshire each have 1½, and Sussex have one. Dorset and Warwickshire have yet to win a match.
The third day matches are likely to be crucial to the outcome of the week. Yorkshire will play Hertfordshire, Leicestershire take on Sussex and Dorset meet Warwickshire.
Yorkshire’s second day scoreline reads like a command performance. But, county training officer Joy Hunter pointed out that the morning foursomes were extremely tight.
All three matches finished on the 18th and, as yesterday, Yorkshire proved to be strong finishers, taking 2½ points.
In the afternoon they swept the board, winning all six singles and Kim Crooks wrapped up the action with a birdie two on the 17th.
“Tomorrow will be a big day,” said Joy. “We will just have to get out there, do our best and try and win.”
Meanwhile, Sussex were also on top form. They also held a 2½-½ advantage at lunchtime and they took another 4½ points from the singles.
“I’m over the moon,” said captain Sheila Williams. “The girls had a really good afternoon and I am delighted with them.”
The third match of the day turned into a battle royal between Leicestershire and Hertfordshire. The foursomes went heavily in Hertfordshire’s favour, with the score again 2½-½. But Leicestershire weren’t finished. They won four of the afternoon singles to square the match.
“It was absolutely brilliant,” said team captain Tracy Bourne. “I never think it’s over and I have every confidence in the girls, but it did look as if we were in trouble. However, they came out fighting and they were superb.
“That half point in the morning gave us just a sniff, it was something on the board. We managed to get the half and we’re still in the tournament.”
Results:
LEICESTERSHIRE 4 1/2, HERTFORDSHIRE 4½
(Leicestershire names first)
Foursomes
Kym Larratt & Helen Lowe lost to Alison Franklin & Harriet Key 1 hole.
Chloe Dexter & Jamie-Leigh Voss lost to Charlie Douglass & Steph McEvoy 3 and 1.
Tracy Bourne & Jo Morris halved with Lucy Williams & Charlotte Field.
Singles
Voss lost to Douglass 2 holes.
Larratt bt Key 4 and 3.
Morris bt Field 7 and 5.
Dexter bt Jackie Foster 2 and 1.
Lowe bt Lucinda Mileham 3 and 2.
Bourne lost to Franklin 6 and 4.
SUSSEX 7, DORSET 2
(Sussex names first)
Foursomes
Hannah Ralph & Karen Sykes bt Harriet Legg & Chantal Scott 6 and 5.
Aileen Greenfield & Chloe Court bt Melanie Buxton & Ilona Davidson 4 and 3.
Jo Galway & Clarissa Bushell halved with Hayley Davis & Melissa McMahon.
Singles
Ralph bt Scott 2 holes.
Emma Field bt Legg 1 hole.
Sykes bt Davidson 5 and 4.
Katherine Russell bt Georgia Hall 4 and 3.
Galway lost to McMahon 2 and 1.
Court halved with Davis.
WARWICKSHIRE 1/2, YORKSHIRE 8 1/2
(Warwickshire names first)
Foursomes
Abbey Gittings & Lauren Taylor lost to Naomi Edwards & Emma Brown 1 hole.
Lisa Barton & Elizabeth Mallett lost to Nikki Dunn & Ellie Robinson 2 holes.
Claire Howells & Charlotte Dalton halved with Sara Garbutt & Helen Searle.
Singles
Howells lost to Edwards 3 and 1.
Gittings lost to Brown 4 and 3.
Taylor lost to Searle 2 and 1.
Mallett lost to Garbutt 1 hole.
Dalton lost to Laura Harvey 1 hole.
Barton lost to Kim Crooks 2 and 1.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer