THE battle of the sexes was fought on the green baize of a snooker table on Wednesday night - and the fairer sex was victorious.

Facing up in the smoke-filled lounge of Sunnybank Social Club, in Silsden, was the Women's World Champion, 21 year-old Kelly Fisher and 40-year-old David Baluk, one of the club's top players.

Not only did she win the challenge, but by notching up 65 points in the third frame, she set the highest break at the club in the past three years.

The club hit the headlines after the Keighley News revealed that the all-male committee had moved to deny women equal rights. Women are restricted to social membership, which bars them from several benefits enjoyed by their male counterparts, including the right to play snooker.

David had gamely accepted a challenge to play Kelly to see whether women are a match for men at snooker.

The contest was over three frames and Kelly took the lot - 66-28, 77-44 and 70-21.

But the score belied David's skills because the match, especially the second frame, was close and but for an unlucky miss on the brown, David had a chance of snatching one frame.

Sportingly accepting defeat, he said: "It was a great experience, very enjoyable. I won't have another chance to play a world number one.

"I think I played quite well, especially in the second frame. I was a bit nervous at first. I'm not ashamed about losing to a woman, she is a very good player."

Kelly said: "It's been a great night. Everyone was very friendly and David played well. I think he was bit nervous - there was more pressure on him because he was playing a woman.

"He came back well in the second frame but unluckily missed that brown and I potted well after that and took the frame."

Among the small group of woman spectators were Margaret Sloan and Kathleen Sutton, two of the campaigners battling to get full membership.

Margaret said: "It's been a brilliant night. It's a pity it can't always be like this."I think that David was very brave to take on the challenge. Credit where credit's due."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.