Junior Premier Tour - Event 2

[NS Admin]

EASB PREMIER JUNIOR TOUR (2)

CRAIGIE SENIOR WINS 2ND EVENT TO LEAD RANKINGS

Stephen Craigie, Newcastle came back from 2-0 down to defeat England team mate Michael Wasley, Gloucester 4-2 in the final of 2nd English Premier Junior Tour, Keynsham SC, Bristol to lead the rankings.

Wasley who made the most breaks over fifty during the weekend opened the final with efforts of (57,35) and (41,30) to win the first two frames easily, Craigie won the 3rd frame on the black adding the next three frames for victory only the 6th frame convincingly.

Frame scores : (0-92)57,35, (24-72)41,30, (63-52), (67-47), (76-55), (73-34). 4-2

Craigie 2nd in his group behind Richard Binns in which he made breaks of 65 and 110, lost 3-1 to Grant Cole required two frames in his final match against Darren Cook to qualify 2-0 down he duly obliged 3-2.

In the last 16 the pair drew each other Binns commenced with a long overdue match century 105 but lost 4-2, Craigie then with a 102 crushed Kamran Ashraf 4-1 and Steven Gregson 4-0.

Free scoring Wasley despite eight breaks over forty could only manage 2nd place in his group behind Alex Dunkley who made a 102 break and seven others runs of forty plus both players losing matches.

Wasley to reach the final and 5th in the rankings accounted for Matt Jelley 4-0 breaks of 72 and 53 both Darrell Whitworth and Sam Craigie 4-3 from 3-2 down in the latter match Wasley drew level at 3-3 with a 79 and won the decider 63-54.

Craigie junior had won his group with the loss of just 4 frames then beat Tom Maxfield who made a 118 break in the group stage 4-1 and first event winner Adam Duffy now 2nd in the chart 4-2 with breaks of 90 and 67.

Whitworth whose group included Stuart Carrington and Mitchell Mann kept the only clean sheet winning all of his matches 3-0, Carrington made the weekends highest break a 132 and blitzed Alex Dunkley 4-0 in the last 16 breaks of 79,91,58 and 55, Dunkley just 7 points in total.     

Other group winners Darren Bond unbeaten 15 frames won two lost, Liam Highfield  15-4, Daniel McCann 11-4 and Matt Jelley 10-9 who lost a match.

Again some the top names in English junior snooker failed to reach the last 16 the most notable casualty?s John Astley, Jack Lisowski, Mitchell Mann and Kyren Wilson such is the standard at present.

Next event 24th/25th November, Woking SC, Surrey ? Entry?s closed.

See www.englishsnooker.com for all details/results.

Malcolm Thorne
English Snooker