YORKSHIRE Ladies got off to a flying start in the Senior County Championship.

They beat South Staffordshire 467-355 with both home and away teams being successful to launch the campaign in style.

The home side, captained by Maureen Singleton, at Outlane BC, won by 60 points (231-171) and the away team, who travelled to Cheslyn Hay WMC, won by 50 points (236-186).

Last season, Yorkshire - seven times winners of the British Championship since its formation in 1986 - were a disappointing second from bottom of their group, but this result will give them great confidence for a real crack at the title.

At Outlane, Yorkshire, boasting a host of Huddersfield Ladies League players throughout the 24-player squad, had a great start with the first four players coming off winning.

Dawn Bray, at No2 won 21-8 and used the corners to great effect.

Andrea Buckley also won to single figures, notching a 21-7 success and it took her only four ends to settle before she found her rhythm and played very well against able opponent Danielle Haytree, whose score did not do justice to her game.

Pat Walton and Marjorie Haigh also had good 21-12 wins, with Walton using the green to her advantage as did Haigh, who left their opponents struggling with the length and running of the green.

Suzi Ladbrooke never looked settled but overcame that and stuck at her game to come off a 21-14 winner.

Jacqui Roper had a tough game and was well matched trailing 16-19 but she dug deep and came through to win 21-20.

Her Meltham teammate Suzanne Howarth played well, using her knowledge of the green to win 21-15, while Eunice Riding lost to 13 and Carole Harpin lost 21-8.

For the away team, under the captaincy of Sybil Jacques, Tracey Preston won 21-12, Pauline Wilde won 21-7, Alexis Lunn and Susan Gibson won 21-10, while Lisa Rice won to 13.

At Outlane: D Radcliffe 21 H Lamond 15, D Bray 21 P Tabbernor 8, J Tonge 21 J Hurst 12, A Buckley 21 D Haytree 7, P Walton 21 L Anderson 12, M Haigh 21 P Jones 12, E Riding 13 G Derry 21, S Ladbrooke 21 J Rennison 14, J Roper 21 J Smith 20, S Howarth 21 R Jackson 15, B Wherrett 21 C Haywood 14, C Harpin 8 P Brown 21.

Total: 231-171

At Cheslyn Hay: M Lockwood 21 J Tongue 15, J Hollingworth 15 B Fleming 21, J Gee 20 S Pritchard 21, P Wilde 21 S Simpson 7, T Preston 21 E Wyke 12, A Lunn 21 V Pritchard 10, S Harper 21 D Arnold 15, P Wilkinson 17 B Rainsbury 21, S Gibson 21 J Grinsell 10, L Rice 21 C Orme 13, L Bond 21 B Benbow 20, H Gilroy 16 B Bartlett 21.

Total: 236-186.

Huddersfield Ladies League

LATEST results from the Huddersfield Ladies Bowling League, week commencing April 23.

Section A: Lockwood Con A (144) 7 Cowcliffe B (134) 3, Meltham A (147) 6 Almondbury BC A (134) 4, Almondbury BC B (143) 3 Outlane A (151) 7, Cowcliffe A (147) 6 Marsh Utd A (136) 4.

Section B: Almondbury Lib A (138) 5 Linthwaite C&B B (138) 5, Linthwaite Hall A (160) 6 Kirkheaton Con A (126) 4, Outlane B (149) 6 Golcar Lib A (126) 4, Longwood B (147) 7 Thongsbridge A (123) 3.

Section C: Milnsbridge BC A (130) 6 Thorpe Green (116) 4, Syngenta A (155) 8 Brockholes A (110) 2, Broad Oak A (149) 6 Kirkheaton C&B A (123) 4, Grange Moor (124) 6 Meltham B (123) 4.

Section D: Marsh Utd B (131) 4 Shepley B (133) 6, Shepley A (149) 7 Paddock CBC (102) 3, Crosland Moor (147) 6 Denby Dale (118) 4, Farnley Tyas (155) 7 Newsome (116) 3.

Section E: New Mill (148) 7 Bradley & Colne (124) 3, Linthwaite C&BC A (142) 6 Lockwood Con B (131) 4, Golcar Lib B (122) 5 Hemplow B (126) 5, Lowerhouses (147) 6 Linthwaite Hall B (117) 4.

Section F: Brockholes B (129) 3 Syngenta B (160) 7, Hemplow A (125) 3 Longwood A (140) 7, Paddock IC (137) 7 Almondbury Lib B (125) 3, Hudds RUFC (134) 7 Skelmanthorpe (111) 3.

Section G: Kirkheaton Con B (132) 7 Milnsbridge Lib B (127) 3, Primrose Hill (142) 6 Brockholes C (130) 4, Thongsbridge B (146) 7 Netherton Con A (120) 3, Netherton Con B (152) 9 Almondbury Con C (101) 1.

Section H: Outlane C (112) 3 Waterloo B (129) 7, Marsh Lib B (155) 8 Milnsbridge BC B (82) 2, Waterloo A (114) 2 Mirfield OB (161) 8, Kirkheaton CBC B (105) 2 Broad Oak B (155) 8.