SCOT Stephen Hendry almost went out of the Australian Open qualifying

rounds in Blackpool. The world No.3, seeded second to stablemate John

Parrott, trailed against Londoner John Wright before knocking in breaks

of 58 and 46 to take the last two frames for a 5-4 success.

However, new stablemate Joe Johnson suffered the embarassment of a 5-0

whitewash by former Southport taxi driver Les Dodds, as was Malta's Tony

Drago by Marcel Gauvreau from Canada.

In the Asian Open at the same venue, 75-year-old eight times world

champion Fred Davis, reached the second round by defeating Mike

Watterson 5-2. Scots through are Jim Donnelly, new professional Duncan

Campbell from Grangemouth, who beat Eric Lawler 5-4, and Eddie Sinclair,

who beat fellow-Scot Matt Gibson 5-2.