YORK's Shirley Stacey and Iain Boyle edged their way into the last 16 of the Golden Charter All-England Mixed Pairs Bowls tournament at Bedford last night.

The York and District clubmates beat off the challenge of Di and Joe Ridley from the powerful Falcon Club, Chelmsford, Essex, 19-16 in a hard-fought first round clash.

Stacey and former English and British Isles junior champion Boyle, now play Folkestone's Ann Harrison and Gordon Charlton today for a place in the quarter-finals.

The Kent duo demolished Portsmouth's Liz Compton and Steve Robertson 27-12 last night.

Updated: 10:55 Saturday, March 30, 2002