Harold keeps his nerve in final stages

Snooker

Dave Harold dashed Drew Henry's hopes of another comeback to reach the third round of the Sweater Shop International Open in Swindon yesterday.

Henry recovered from 4-2 down in his opening match to knock out Andy Hicks 5-4, having earlier this season defeated Nick Dyson 10-9 at the World Championship qualifiers after trailing 7-2.

When Harold found himself two up with three to play he feared the worst. "I know what Drew is capable of and the way I played in the rest of the match, I didn't feel too confident," said the world No 13 following his 5-4 success.

Earlier Tony Drago became the first player to reach the last 16, although a 5-2 scoreline against Yorkshire's Mark Rowing hides the full story. After comfortably taking the opening frame, Drago snatched the second on the black and repeated the trick in frame three. He now meets Fergal O'Brien or Canada's Alain Robidoux for a place in the quarter-finals.