Steve Thomas, Waikato, showed everyone that his Semi-final spot in the 2008 Cuesports Foundation NZ Snooker Championship was no fluke, as he put together a magnificent 143 clearance in the annual Waikato/Bay of Plenty Interprovincial Challenge.

THomas was having a few practice shots before the match when Ash Tonge was heard to comment to Steve, “with your cue action, no amount of practice is going to help”!  This would have to be one of those classic quotes that will go down in the annals of snooker.

The event, comprising teams of eight A-Grade players and eight B-Grade players, has been going for several years now, and this year Waikato narrowly won back the trophy donated by Leo Hourigan and Chick Boden, and affectionately known as “The Hobo Cup”.