Saturday 18th June saw Swindon's 147 Snooker Club host their annual Challenge Match against Stoke Snooker Club.

Last year's event ended with the Swindon side easily defeating their South Coast rivals after both strong home and away victories. Stoke captain and manager Dave Norman had promised a tougher battle when they returned to Swindon for the first leg of the 2011 Challenge.

Swindon's 147 team captain Troy Paul has had the lad's working hard on their match play during the months leading up to this year's first match, saying before the day started "the lads have all been practicing hard and putting in the effort with considerable improvement as well. Our plan is to keep play tight in the early stages and hopefully edge an early lead. The ideal scenario is obviously going to the second leg away at Stoke with a big head start but we will have to wait and see".

The Swindon A side started well but suddenly found their Stoke rivals a force to be reckoned with. After several close games and intense match play battles the two A sides finished the day at 10 – 10. Craig Drury for Swindon continued good form and secured 3 out of 4 on the day dropping just one frame to Stokes Mark Lloyd who also won 3 out of 4.

The B side although playing well and producing good snooker struggled from the start and head to the away game trailing at 9 – 8. Notable form from the B team's included Stokes Jack Pennicott who won 2 out of 3 frames only losing to Swindon's Lee Cutler who finished the day with a 100% record securing 3 out of 3.

It was a disastrous first leg for the Swindon C team who just couldn't get it together on the day and didn't play to their full potential. They head to Gosport later in the year with a mountain to climb and trail at 16 – 3. Stokes Daryl Cullens played superb snooker and potted his way to 4 out of 4. The following Stoke players also played great snooker and managed 3 out of 3: Talvyn Singh, Callum Crow and Oliver Abbott.

Overall and although some players struggled on the day an enjoyable and friendly event was experienced by all. The two Clubs' share an immensely competitive but friendly rivalry and look forward to the annual challenge.

The Swindon side will be back practicing hard from this week leading up to the away game at Stoke Snooker Club on Saturday 23rd July where they currently trail by 14 frames.

The 147 Snooker Club and all the junior players would like to thank Dominos for their support on the day.