LANCASHIRE overwhelmed Yorkshire 7-2 to clinch the Northern Counties Women's Championship for the first time since 2002 to qualify for the English Finals at Pleasington in September.

Captain Linda Wilson, a member of Bolton's Lostock Park, guided her charges through the week-long tournament at Heswall with a 100 per cent record intact. And they did not give their Roses rivals, winners for the last five years, an inch.

They were two points up from the foursomes before hen 14-year-old Emily Taylor, the county champion, earned a fighting half against England international Naomi Edwards in the singles as Nikki Foster, Brogan Townend, Sarah Walton, Cori Lee and Catherine Roberts all piled on more points.