Having just missed out on a chance of facing Steve Davis in the T&A Snooker Classic, Wayne Cooper took his frustration out in the Strachan English Open Champion-ship.

The 20-year-old from East Bowling notched two 4-0 victories in a tough group at the Manhattan Snooker Club in Harrogate to storm into the last 16.

He defeated fellow England international Luke Fisher 99-8, 79-57, 74-68, 65-54 and former England junior captain Craig Taylor 72-14, 69-17, 89-1, 74-42.

He had breaks of 98, 51 and 57 against Fisher, who replied with a 57, and efforts of 72, 89 and 40 against taylor.

"They were the best eight frames I've ever played in an English tournament," admitted Cooper. "And I've played in it about six times.

"It was frustrating missing out on a chance to play against Steve Davis last Saturday at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre - he's a legend - and frustrating watching Howard Mawson play him instead."

Cooper, who lost 2-1 on the pink to Mawson in the T&A amateur final two weekends ago, is now hoping to at least emulate his previous best in the English by reaching the quarter-finals in Sheffield next month.

Fellow Clubhouse In Cue Gardens member Craig Butler lost in the second round at Harrogate to a 13-year-old.

Having beaten Justin Astley 4-2, the 1999 T&A champion lost 4-3 to the very promising Gary Wilson. The other two qualifiers were John Gallagher (Halifax) and Craig Steadman (Bolton).

Richard Lodge (Lidget Green WMC) and Paul Devitt (Eastbrook Sports & Social) are through to the Bradford Billiards Championship final.

Lodge had breaks of 31, 32 and 66 in leading 250-129 against first-time semi-finalist Steve Wilman (Harold Club).

And the left-hander had further breaks of 41 and 43 in running out a 500-275 victor.

The only substantial breaks in the other tie were 60 by Devitt and 35 by Andy Armitage (Fields Sports & Social), who trailed 250-128.

Armitage did make the only break of 30-plus (31) in the second half, Devitt running out the winner 500-354.

The date and venue for the final have yet to be arranged.

On Saturday Lodge faces former CIU national champion Neil Rewhorn (12.45pm-2.45pm) in the last 16 of the English Billiards Champion-ship at the Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale.

The other ties are holder Lee Lagan v Ray Wilson (10.30am-12.30pm), Tony Done v Gary Rogers (3pm-5pm) and former English snooker champion Robert Marshall v Phil Welham (5.15pm-7.15pm).

The quarter-finals are on Sunday (1.30pm-3.30pm and 4pm-6pm), with Lodge or Rewhorn facing Done or Rogers.

Moorhouse Shield Team Billiards Tournament - semi-finals second legs (tonight): Harold Club B v Eccleshill WMC, Clayton Cons v Lilycroft WMC.

John Smith's (Hey's Trophy) - Semi-finals, first legs (next Thursday): Farsley Libs v East Ward Labour B, East Ward Labour A v Upper Bolton Cons B or Holme Wood Social. Second legs Thursday, April 6.

E Rosse Hopkinson Plate - Semi-finals, first legs (next Thursday): Victoria Cons B v Wibsey Libs A, Clayton Cons v Undercliffe Cricket Club B. Second legs Thursday, April 6.

Latest Yorkshire Inter-District League positions - Billiards (played ten unless stated): Huddersfield-1 53pts, Bradford 51, Wharfedale 42, Leeds-1 (11) 27, Harrogate (11) 27, Huddersfield-2 (9) 23, Leeds-2 (9) 22. Snooker (played nine unless stated): Sheffield-1 34, Castleford 33, Huddersfield-1 33, Leeds-1 (10) 33, Sheffield-2 (9) 33, Bradford 31, Wharfedale (10) 26, Leeds-2 24, Wakefield 23, Harrogate (10) 22, Huddersfield-2 19, Selby (8) 19.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.