Cowdroy finds silver lining in Fareham
BRADLEY Cowdroy found a silver lining to his early exit from the final leg of the national under-21 snooker circuit in south London.
It meant the 17-year-old from Bournemouth could regain the lead on the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour with a decent run in the seventh event at Fareham Snooker Club.
And the Dorset warrior did indeed end the weekend on a high.
The previous evening, Cowdroy lost 3-2 to Kayden Brierley (Swinton) in the last-32 of the Under-21 Premier Development Tour at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, after the English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards decided to play the first knockout round on the same day as the group stages.
Now in the relegation zone, he faces a trip to Chesterfield in April for the play-offs when 18 players will battle for four Premier spots.
On to Fareham and Cowdroy was undefeated in his five-man group, beat Arron Smith (Chichester) 2-0 in the last-four and overcame Dan Sykes (Chandler’s Ford) 2-1 in the final to pocket the £100 first prize.
More importantly, he takes a 16-point lead over Jamie Wilson, who received a bye into the last-16 in Coulsdon after finishing higher in his group and therefore missed the Cuestars event.
Cowdroy said: “A good run in Coulsdon would have been nice.
“I could have got out of trouble with regards to the Premier Tour and not had to go to the play-offs. What will be, will be. I got through last time.
“I wanted to try to redeem myself today and take advantage of Jamie’s good fortune in getting through. It was nice to finish the weekend on a high.”
Meanwhile, Fareham is proving to be a happy hunting ground for 21-year-old Sykes. He has appeared in four finals during his eight-year Cuestars career, one every two years and all at the same club.
Arron Smith (Chichester) made the semi-finals for only the second time in his career. Marcos Dayao reached the last-four for the first time and shared the day’s highest break of 60 with fellow Londoner Aristos Pampouris.
For more information about event sponsor Fareham SC, visit www.farehamsnooker.co.uk.
Top Spot Snooker Club, Havant, hosts the eighth leg of ten on Sunday, March 15.
BREAKS
Marcos Dayao: 60, 60, 50, 48.
Aristos Pampouris: 60.
Bradley Cowdroy: 48, 45.
Arron Smith: 47.
Ronnie Sullivan: 43, 40.
Dan Sykes: 41.
O’Shay Scott: 40.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Dan Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Ryan Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Aristos Pampouris (Legends, Leytonstone); 5th, Shane Kearns (Jesters, Swindon).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Marcos Dayao (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 2nd, Arron Smith (Selsey RBL); 3rd, Ronnie Sullivan (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, Steven Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, O’Shay Scott (Chandlers Ford SC). Chloe White withdrew.
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Cowdroy 2-0 Smith, Sykes 2-1 Dayao.
FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Cowdroy 2-1 Sykes.
Picture by Tim Dunkley
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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)