FIONA Kerr's hopes of retaining her women's singles title in the City of York Open Bowls Tournament ended at the quarter-final stage.

The Scottish player from Lanarkshire beat Dunnington's Jean Hall 21-7 at Clarence Gardens yesterday, then beat June Ogden 20-4, Sheila Shrimpton 21-10 but was edged out in the quarters 20-19 by Gill Godden who will play Lynne Tattersall (York) in tomorrow's semi-final.

The other semi-final is between Maragaret Moss (York and New Earswick) and Joan Knight (Wheldrake).

The men's singles were starting today.

New Zealand's men side wrapped up overall victory in their seven-match series with England when they took a winning 4-2 lead in the penultimate Test at the Stoke Bowling Club in Coventry.

The opening Tests were played in York last week.

Updated: 13:19 Thursday, July 26, 2001