THE draws for the first round of the Bradford Snooker Championships produced a stand-out tie with the first two names out of the hat.

Current Yorkshire and nine-time Bradford champion Wayne Cooper was paired with Bradford team-mate and pairs partner Kevin Firth in an all-Undercliffe Cricket Club affair.

The duo have a bye in the Pairs event but this singles match is already creating plenty of interest in the district and a good crowd is expected when the duo meet.

Eddie Ratcliffe and David Parrott are running this year's competition and details will be sent out to all players, which can also be viewed at www.bsa-cuesports.com.

Full draws – Singles: K Firth v W Cooper, P Hamilton v H Rafiq, M Ball v M Rhodes, J Wellham v J Walker, D Bentley v S Sandhu, A Green v S Jackson, G Green v J Hollins, R Morgan v J Metcalfe, S Harker v R Hagerty, D Parker v K Dunn, J Murgatroyd v C Tolson, H Mawson v D Goy, M Hirst v L Walsh, M Slater v T Wood. Byes: D Stirk and ATipper. Pairs: S Sandhu & P Gaunt v M Sharp & R Duffield, D Stirk & J Andrews v H Rafiq & B Singh, I & J Brown v S Jackson & D Goy. Remaining pairs have byes.

* Bradford No 1 started the defence of their Yorkshire Inter-District League title with a 3-3 draw against Leeds No 1 at Undercliffe Cricket Club.

Wayne Cooper started well, a break of 36 earning Bradford a 73-17 victory in the opening frame. But Leeds opponent Tony Massey played some great shots as a break of 43 helped him to a 64-31 frame win which levelled the tie.

Kevin Firth was quick out of the blocks for the hosts, a fast 47 break giving Bradford a 2-1 lead with the frame 74-7 in Firth's favour. But again Leeds refused to lie down and Mark Ball made a good break of 30 in taking frame four 71-49.

Lewis Walsh took on Leeds debutant Jason Braithwaite, with both players showing a few signs of nerves in the opening match of the season. This was a closely-contested match and each player showed respect with some excellent safety exchanges.

Braithwaite edged the first frame, clearing brown to pink to put the visitors ahead with a 49-36 win. And despite Walsh moving 29 points clear in the last, the frame was decided on pink when Walsh potted a superb long shot to clinch it 59-44.