DEFENDING York Open Bowls Tournament singles champion Peter Wilson (York) saw his title challenge falter at the first hurdle as he lost to Tom Grassly (Goole) 21-16 in the opening round.

Wilson's defeat means one of Arthur Dunbar, Jim Mould, Gary Bunce and Eric Wilkinson will be crowned this year's champion, when the four collide at the semi-final stage.

Bunce, winner in 1997 and 1998, made it through to the last four with notable wins over Tex Stevens (21-12), Gordon Storey - victor over John Holborn (Sunderland) 21-8 and Dave Wadsworth 21-15 - and Dudley Williams.

In the last four, Bunce will take on Wilkinson, who made steady progress through the rounds before edging out Stamford Bridge's Tony Moore 22-11 and then David Simpson 21-18 in the quarter-final.

Dunbar played consistent bowls to reach the semis, including good wins against Graham Brooke (21-14), John Emmerson (21-15) and Scarborough's Phillip McDonald - victor over Ray Calpin, Arthur Richardson and John Stakes and Les Jackson.

Awaiting Dunbar is Mould, with the 1994 champion working his way through to beat Selby's Trevor Quainton 21-17 after a hard fought quarter-final.

In the Ladies' Pairs competition, defending champions Maureen Cook and Audrey Swann are through to the semi-finals.

They had a comfortable victory over Rynne Tattersall and Barbara Sprigg (25-15) on their way to the last four, where they will now meet Melanie Brooke and Brenda Love.

Brooke and Love won a high scoring game 25-21 against Betty Richardson and Marilyn Andrews, before beating Doreen Rodgers and Judy Hill 28-15.

Clark and Moss pulled off a dramatic last-end victory over Pat and Maureen Walker.

Having gone into the last end at 13-13, Maureen Walker's last bowl trailed the jack for three shots. Margaret Moss had the last bowl which was played with weight hitting a short wood of her own into the head for the shot for the victory.

Former champions Clark and Moss will now face Kath Hardcastle and Carol Pink in the last four.

Hardcastle and Pink were on a roll after beating Sandra Grantham and Judy Abel in the second round and further success came their way when they beat Kath Sykes and Margaret Mathews 20-16 to reach the semi-final.

Updated: 10:24 Friday, August 01, 2003