PONTYPOOL teenager David Donovan went home from the Tredegar Cons Club in Newport in snooker heaven after producing a terrific performance to beat reigning UK title holder Matthew Stevens last night.

Donovan found himself on the brink of defeat at the Newport club's pro-am event, which is biggest tournament for Welsh only players during the year.

The 18-year-old Challenge Tour player, who had beaten Newport's Mike Gagliardi 3-0 earlier in the evening, had to sit and watch Stevens roar into a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven frame match which included a 105 break.

But he fought back gallantly and, after drawing level at 3-3, he took a tough, defensive final frame 72-44 to reach the quarter-finals.

A delighted Donovan said: "This is the best result of my career. He played well but I managed to pull it out. At one stage, I was on a 147 as well!"

Donovan was on the main professional tour last year before dropping back to the Challenge Tour.

However, he added: "If I keep playing like that, I can get back on it. My chance came and I took it to win 4-3."

Stevens was making his debut in the competition and before making the long journey back to Carmarthen at nearly midnight last night, said: "I haven't picked my cue up for two-and-a-half months (since the World Championships).

"The organisers of this event approached me about playing a couple of years ago, but in the summer I just pack my cue away."

Donovan will now take on Cardiff professional Paul Davies in the last eight after he beat another Pontypool player, Jeff Haines, in the second round.

This, though, was a more one-sided affair with Davies hitting breaks of 55, 61 and 62 to claim a 4-0 victory.

Haines had earlier come through the first round by taking three frames in a row to beat Challenge Tour player David Mills of Neath 3-1.