York began their Yorkshire Inter-City Snooker League season with a comfortable 5-1 win at home to Huddersfield second team at the Cueball Club.

Cueball Club owner Gary Penrose as non-playing executive captain selected the top three players for the match from his ranking list of eight, which is 1 Kevin Hopper, 2 Matthew Tugby, 3 Justin Morris, 4 Kevin Gall, 5 Jordan Worobec, 6 John Dowd, 7 Dave Sanderson, 8 Mark Hodson.

Only players winning two frames will be eligible to play in the following match. As Morris lost a frame against Huddersfield, he will be replaced by Gall. This system will operate throughout the season, giving all eight players a chance to represent York.

Tugby, making his York debut, made a 39-break in winning his opening frame 68-22 against James Shaw. At 28-28 in their second frame Tugby got Shaw in a tricky snooker on yellow and Shaw made five consecutive foul attempts to hit it. Tugby took the remaining colours to win 65-28.

Morris lost his first frame against Andy Batty 69-31 despite the Huddersfield player hobblling round the table because of a metal case round his right leg. In their second frame Morris made a 33 break to win 69-37.

Hopper took a commanding lead in his first frame against Trevor Roper and won easily 78-22. In the second Hopper won 64-26, a 38-break erasing a 23-0 deficit.

The match was sponsored by Heworth Mini-buses.

York's team to play at Wakefield on November 9 is Hopper, Tugby and Gall.

Updated: 10:50 Wednesday, October 29, 2003