A HIGHEST break of 77 helped Matty Hill get off to a winning start in the opening round of Barrow Individual Snooker League fixtures.

Hill was up against former Evening Mail snooker champion Stephen Waddington and his high score helped him begin the competition with a 4-2 victory, before the return fixture was drawn 3-3.

Defending Individual League champion Martin McDonald was a winner in week one too, defeating Al Eaton 4-2. However, Eaton proved a match in the return fixture to draw 3-3.

Danny McDonald made a flying start with back-to-back 6-0 triumphs against Adam Cook, denying his opponent a consolation frame on the black ball in the return game.

Tony Mason was in imperious form in his first two matches too, defeating newcomer Neil Aspinall 6-0 and 5-1 in their two matches.

Debutants Rob Larkin and Anthony Atkinson both recorded 5-1 wins over each other and it was a similar story when Jamie Thompson and Gary Barbour met, each winning 4-2.

Last season’s runner-up Tommy Barbour beat newcomer Dale McClean 5-1 and 4-2, including a break of 53 in the second game.

Graeme Edwards beat John Tyerman 4-2, including a break of 47, followed by the return encounter being drawn 3-3.

And the match between fellow new boys Jack Arnold and Paul Deelay saw the latter win 4-2, with the second game to be played.