Willie Thorne's Under 21's - Grand Finals (December 2007)

[NS Admin]

WILLIE THORNE?S GRAND FINALS UNDER 21?S

MANN TAKES TITLE

Mitchell Mann bounced back from the disappointment of losing in the previous days Under 16 final to beat Kyren Wilson 4-2 to win the last ever Under 21 Grand Finals, Willie Thorne?s, Leicester.   

Mann trailed 2-1 in the final (52-3) (25-61) after Wilson made a break of 64 (20-84) a break of 34 brought Mann level at 2-2 a run of 73 took the 5th frame (85-31) and Mann completed the win with a terrific 34 clearance (67-59).

The winner 6th in the rankings from 84 players coasted through to the final scoring heavily to beat Thomas Brown 4-0 breaks of 73,54 and 50, Nathan Jones 4-1, 47 and for the second day running the highest break 105, 95 and 54.

Then quietly defeating Kevin Yates 4-0 and Liam Highfield 4-1, 76 break to reach the final.

Wilson accounted for Callum Downing 4-2, Sam Craigie 4-3 after leading 3-0 breaks of 101,47,42 twice, Craigie also 42 then former champion Stephen Craigie, 52, 4-0, Wilson 43 and finally Lee Shanker 4-1 efforts of 73,41 and 45.

Rankings winner loses
Rankings winner Alex Dunkley lost in the quarter finals 4-2 to Liam Highfield.

Jones cruises plate
Nathan Jones blitzed by Mann in the main event cruised through the plate not losing a frame beating Sam Craigie 3-0 who won the plate last December.

Under 21?s scrapped
The Under 21?s will be replaced next year with an Open Series with a guaranteed ?500 first prize at the Grand Finals.

There are plenty of playing opportunities for teenagers these days but not many pro-ams it is hoped the current under 21?s stay with the new event which hopefully will attract older players to resurrect the old popular Mini One Dayer.

No shows
Again late withdrawals marred a full 32 player field made worse when three players failed to show despite contact being made a few days before the date.

Malcolm Thorne

Last 32
A.Dunkley (Southampton) 43 bt A.McIntyre (Southampton) 4-0
L.Higginbotham (Birmingham) bt A.Anastasiou (Derby) 4-0
J.Jelley bye
L.Highfield (Stoke) 50 bt J.Fountain (Nottingham) 4-0
M.Mann (Birmingham) 73,54,50 bt T.Brown (Chesterfield) 4-0
N.Jones (Kings Lynn), D.Douane (London), K.Yates (Derby) byes
N.Jennings (Winchester) 51,73 bt T.Maxfield (Stafford) 4-2
M.Jelley (Leicester) bye
S.Knight (Leicester) 44,57 bt O.Brown (Chesterfield) 4-1
L.Shanker (Derby) 47 bt O.Tydeman (Southampton) 4-0
Stephen Craigie (Newcastle) 75,54 bt T.Kerslake (Derby) 4-0
B.Harrison 43,51 (Bath) bt S.McGaw (Southampton) 4-0
Sam Craigie (Newcastle) 47,73 bt 42 J.Stone 4-0
K.Wilson (Kettering) bt C.Downing (Birmingham) 4-2

Last 16
Dunkley 71,46 bt 48 Higginbotham 4-2
Highfield bt J,Jelley 4-1
Mann47,105,95,54 bt Jones 4-1
Yates 54 bt Douane 4-1
Jennings 59 bt 56 M.Jelley 4-2
Shanker 57,84,72 bt Knight 4-0
St. Craigie 44,55 bt 40,43 Harrison 4-2
Wilson 101,47,42,42 bt 42 Sam Craigie 4-3

Quarter finals ?25
Highfield 78 bt Dunkley 4-2
Mann bt Yates 4-0
Shanker 43 bt 77 Jennings 4-3
Craigie 52 bt 43 Wilson 4-0

Semi finals ?35
Mann 76 bt Highfield 4-1
Wilson 73,41,45 bt Shanker 4-1

Final ?100/?50
Mann 34,73,34 bt 64 Wilson

Plate
Quarter finals ?15
Maxfield 61 bt McGaw 2-0
Jones bt McIntyre 2-0
Craigie bt Harrison 2-0
Brown bt Knight 2-0

Semi finals ?25
Jones bt Maxfield 2-0
Craigie bt Brown 2-0

Final ?50/?35
Jones bt Craigie 3-0