EASB Premier Junior Tour - Event 3

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ENGLISH PREMIER JUNIOR TOUR EVENT 3

CRAIGIE COMES OF AGE

WASLEY MISSES OUT ON 147

HIGHFIELD BACK ON TOP ? 4 CENTURY?S

Sam Craigie, Gateshead the EASB Under 16 Champion came of age winning the 3rd English Premier Tour (Under 21), Hazelgrove SC, Stockport beating Event 1 winner Liam Highfield, Stoke, 4-1 in the final finishing with a 117 break his 3rd century of the weekend.

His previous best performance this season quarter finals Event 1.

Craigie backed by 110 Sport leaps up to 4th place in the set 48 player rankings from 14th, Highfield takes over at the top again, Michael Wasley drops to 2nd, Jack Lisowski who made the events highest break 138 is 3rd, Alex Dunkley 5th, Nick Jennings 6th, Mitchell Mann 7th and Danny McCann 8th up from 11th after his best finish so far the quarters. 

The winner lost the close 1st frame of the final won the 2nd easily adding the next two frames on the latter colours and ended with the 117 break.

(46-69), (85-0), (61-46), (64-36), 117(117-0) ? 4-1

Craigie made breaks of 103,88,76,46 and 40 in the Saturday group stage losing just one match to EASB Under 14 Champion Joel Walker 3-2 who finished with a 74.

On Sunday he defeated Martin Ball 4-1 breaks of 60,67, Billy Castle 4-2 from 2-1 down, 59 and 56, Under 19 runner up Ben Harrison 4-3 from 3-1 adrift, Harrison 48,47 and 40, Craigie (46,67) and 114 and finally Syd Wilson in his first semi final 4-1 breaks of 40 and 66.

Four tons for Highfield
Highfield who made a 147 in the first event won all his group games with a highest break of 108 overcame Callum Waite 4-1 with efforts of 42,62 and 116, Jack Lisowski 4-3, Highfield led 2-1, 113 break, Lisowski 64 earlier then a 90 for 2-2, Highfield winning the next two frames easily.

Followed by a 4-1 over Alex Dunkley breaks of 95,113 and 80 and lastly Michael Wasley 4-3 who led 3-1 with runs of 54 and 53, Highfield 54 and 76 for 3-3 winning the decider 78-34.

Wasley breaks down on 122
Wasley, Gloucester who led the rankings at the start of play missed the green on course for his first maximum in a group match against Ryan Clark the ball wobbling in the pocket and staying on the lip.

Group winners
Besides Highfield, Ben Harrison and Mitchell Mann never lost a group match, Harrison with the best frame record 15/3.

Other group winners who lost a match Craigie, Alan Moore, Alex Dunkley, Wasley and Nick Jennings.

Best show so far
Semi finalist Syd Wilson whose previous best finish was last 32 in the last two events this season jumps up to 13th place from 27th.

Quarter finalist?s Ben Harrison and Alan Moore climb to 14th and 15th places from 20th and 24th spots.

4th  Event ? 10th/11th January ? Breaks SC, Erdington, Birmingham.

See www.englishsnooker.com for full results and rankings.

Malcolm Thorne
English snooker