YORK VIKINGS produced a top drawer display as they picked up 12 points in Yorkshire Over-55s League division one following a 83-72 victory over leaders and reigning champions Featherstone Jets.

The win leaves them nine points behind their rivals but with a game in hand.

The away rinks put in excellent performances with Tony Hopcutt, Barry Walker, Malcolm Harrison and Phil Parsons coming from 9-1 and 15-10 behind to win 20-15.

Alan Vowles, Gordon Walker, Tex Stevens and Graham Brooke got off to a great start as they led 10-1 after seven ends and 21-6 after 15 but the home side came back strongly and Brooke's men eked out a 22-21 victory.

In York, Dave Dale, Andy Humphreys, Jim Robertson and Graham Instone were only 13-12 down with six ends to play but they lost the lot and the game 23-12.

Ray Calpin, Chris Bishop, Eric Hodgson and Malcolm Thompson had a slender 10-7 lead after 12 ends before picking up a six, four and then a single to open a gap. They went into their last end 23-13 ahead – and picked up a six to finish 29-13.

The Vikings' next game is a tricky away tie at Huddersfield a week on Monday.

York stay at the summit of the North Eastern Ladies League despite losing to North Cave 88-85.

At home, Judythe Williams, Tina Robinson, Jean Williams and Pauline Cooper got off to a great start as they led 17-5 after eight ends on their way to an impressive 29-16 win.

Brenda Love, Eva Snarr, Sue Kirkpatrick and Pauline Armitage led 19-15 after 16 ends but were 21-19 down two ends later. They were victorious after taking the next three to claim a 24-21 success.

Away, Maureen Robinson, Jenny Darrell, Maggie Pallister and Pat Bracken led for most of their game but dropped a three and a four on the last two ends to go down 21-19.

Pam Richardson, Joan Knight, Kath Pepper and Barbara Dawson had a tough time as they struggled to find the pace of the carpet and found themselves 28-5 down after 15 ends. They had the better of the run in, scoring eight shots, but still lost 30-13.

For the first time in the 23-year history of the annual challenge match, Yorkshire Ladies beat the men in the Presidents game. Joan Jackson led the team to a 172-165 victory which saw six on the nine rinks successful.

Jackson's team, which included Pat Potter, Helen Wood and Carol Instone, faced a tough challenge against Tony Horobin's team but they came out on top, only losing six ends and winning 20-9.

The men's highest winning rink came from home-based players Charlie Arnett, Graham Instone, Phil Parsons and Graham Brooke, who won 33-8.

Selby's Jane Simpson's team picked up a six on the 16th end to put them 15-14 ahead on their way to a 22-15 victory, while Harrogate's Irene Small's rink scored a five during the last couple of ends to win 21-17.

Carol Banks, Betty Richardson, Zoe Eagles and Helen Walker were trailing Bill Waldie's New Earswick side 15-6 before a run of six winning ends helped them on their way to a 26-18 victory.

Maureen Walker, June Clayton, Melanie Brooke and Linda Harrison also enjoyed success as they claimed a 24-17 triumph.

Yorkshire moved into the EIBA Over-60s Liberty Trophy semi-final, where they will play Northamptonshire, following a successful 115-100 victory over Lincolnshire which saw four out of the six rinks winning.

On Saturday, York look to keep their place at the top of Yorkshire League division one when they play Redcar.