UFFCULME'S Sam Baird won his first qualifying match for the World Championships in Sheffield with a 10-6 win over Stephen Rowlings on Sunday.

The match was played over two sessions with Baird coming from 3-1 down to lead 6-3 after the first session with the help of a 103 break.

His next opponent is journeyman pro Joe Delaney, who reached the televised stages of the world championships in 2007. If all goes according to plan, Sam could be facing six-time champion and snooker legend Steve Davis in the final qualifying round this Sunday.

Meanwhile, it was the week of the underdog in the Tiverton Snooker League as Tiverton Con D beat leaders Halberton B 4-1 and bottom side Heathcoat C won by the same margin against Cully RBL, who were second prior to this result. Halberton A now lip into second spot after their 5-0 caning of Tivvy Con C.

Division 2 leaders Cullompton Con ground out a 3-2 win over Tiv Con B and second-placed Legionnaires won 4-1 to gain some ground.

The wooden spoon looms larger by the week for bottom side Tiverton RBL, who lost 4-1 away at Dulverton B.

Latest results, Division 1 — Halberton B lost 4-1 to Tiverton Con D: A Bond lost to S Dryhurst 48-89, (Bond 35 break) N Osment bt J Bartlett 64-50, J Sampson lost to M Palk 27-87, (Palk had breaks of 21 & 25) S Baird lost to L Ellis 55-108, R Branton lost to D Hold 55-89

Heathcoat C beat Cullompton RBL 4-1: A Fields bt K McCarron 80-66, B Kilshaw lost to D Cornhill 55-62, M Champion bt M Rowe 65-44, J Reed bt S Clode 73-46, T Reed bt B Clements 84-32

Tiverton Liberal A lost 4-1 to Heathcoat A: A J Smith lost to K Chidgey 30-66, C Leaning lost to J Highfield 54-77, M Woodbury lost to A Goff 71-85, (Woodbury 30 break) S Radford lost to W I'Anson 32-56, R Latchem bt P Browning 48-47

Tiverton Con C lost 5-0 to Halberton A: J Ridewood lost to S Bryant 29-70, G Batten lost to N Barrow 33-126, R Price lost to C Stubbs 38-75, D Bond lost to P Brewer 85-94, (Bond had 52 break) M Winter lost to M Bennett 40-53, (Bennett 20 break)

Division 2 — Cullompton Con bt Tiverton Con B 3-2: A Cottrell lost to R Hitchcock 27-35, T Dunn lost to G Mitchell 31-48, A Dunn bt D Wannell 53-21, M Couch bt D Dolby 49-46, M Andrew bt B Holly 56-14

Dulverton B bt Tiverton RBL 4-1: J Towers bt J Dolley 65-44, (Towers made 22 clearance) D Syrett lost to S Holmes 50-59, S Adams bt R Angell 50-20, K Parker bt C Rendell 65-21, G Nichollas bt S Morgan 58-37

Tiverton Con A lost 3-2 to Tiverton Liberal B: B Blake lost to J Morgan 37-52, N Tarrant bt D Fraser 62-35, G Pengelly bt M Fitzpatrick 51-49, I Davis lost to B Frost 37-49, M Stoneman lost to M Long 41-48, (respotted black )

Whitbread Legionnaires bt Dulverton A 4-1: R Colman bt D Bodger 50-26, G Newsome lost to J Arkill 5-42, S Fairbrother bt R Bawden 47-31, J Webber-Rookes bt S Lazarus 49-34, B Hutchings bt C Dubery 39-7