ONE of the greatest names in snooker gave York the thumbs up after winning a mighty battle on the first day of the UK Championship.

There were only about 100 spectators in the audience to see Steve Davis playing at the Barbican Leisure Centre, but he was impressed by the venue and the turn-out.

"That was a good crowd for the first day. It was a good sign for the rest of the tournament," said the six-times world champion.

Davis admitted, though, that he was a bit lucky to beat Lancastrian Stuart Pettman 7-6.

"That start was a bit early for me. I thought to myself 'what on earth am I doing here playing competitive snooker at 10 o'clock on a foggy Monday morning?'

"It was a scrappy win. I didn't get settled in the first session. As I get older I find that I don't settle in to a match as quickly as I used to," said the 44-year-old.

Davis was 4-2, 5-3 and 6-4 down but fought back to level at six-all.

"He didn't miss a long pot," said Davis. "He was superb. But I got my teeth into the match in the second half.

"In the last frame it got tactical with two reds to go but I kept him away from the balls and with a bit of luck I got on to the colours. You need a bit of luck at this level.

"Part of my game is very good and part not so good. I am cueing well when I'm in among the balls. I still relish the challenge and having to battle with someone. I know when it comes to the crunch I have not lost my bottle."

Davis, who has won the UK title a record six times (the last in 1987) faces a best of 17 frames second round match against Welshman Matthew Stevens, ranked No 9 in the provisional world list, on Thursday (10am and 7pm).

Robin Hull, from Finland, scored the first two century breaks of the championship while beating Anthony Davies 7-2. Hull, provisionally ranked world No 47, notched up 107 in frame seven and 101 in the ninth.

In last night's matches, Billy Snaddon, who reached the European Open last eight in Malta last week, went out 7-3 to Kidderminster's Terry Murphy, while James Wattana lost a marathon duel 7-6 with Mark Davis, from Sussex. Wattana made a 124 break, the highest of the day.

Drew Henry included a 109 break while trouncing Alain Robidoux 7-1 to set up a second round clash with Stephen Hendry, while Tony Drago knocked out Gary Wilkinson 7-5.

The championship goes on for two weeks, with £100,000 for the winner. The final is on Sunday, December 16.

Updated: 11:56 Tuesday, December 04, 2001