Hat-trick for rankings leader Donovan

SOMERS Town teenager John Donovan has extended his lead on the Cuestars Under-21 Silver Tour with a third successive winner’s trophy.

The 16-year-old is now odds-on favourite to claim his first rankings title with three events remaining.

Donovan defeated first-time finalist Asten Sahota 2-1 from 1-0 down in the fifth leg at Fareham Snooker Club.

Breaks of 47 in the second frame and 32 in the decider ended the resistance of his ten-year-old opponent from Southampton.

The match was played on one of the host club’s two professional standard tables.

Donovan said: “I don’t play on (Star tables) very much but when I do, I play well.

“He was 1-0 up and I knew I had to improve my game. So I stepped my game up, played a bit slower, started potting more balls and made a few breaks.”

Reflecting on his hat-trick of tournament wins, he added: “I put in the work over Christmas and I’m starting to get the results.”

Donovan has a 31-point lead over Samuel Laxton (Portsmouth), who made a group-stage exit.

Harry Wyatt (Ferndown) lost 2-0 to Donovan in the last-four and climbed to third place.

Fifth-placed Sahota, the youngest ever Bronze Tour rankings champion, overcame Mason Wilson (Basingstoke) 2-1 in the second semi.

For more information about the event sponsor, Fareham Snooker Club, go to www.farehamsnooker.co.uk.

Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth, hosts the sixth leg of eight on Sunday, April 3.

BREAKS

John Donovan: 49, 47, 47, 36, 32.
Samuel Laxton: 45, 34.
William Thomson: 33.
Asten Sahota: 32.
Mason Wilson: 30.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Mason Wilson (Academy, Basingstoke); 2nd, John Donovan (Cousins, London); 3rd, William Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Chloe White (Waterlooville Sports Bar).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Harry Wyatt (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Owen Jenkins (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, Samuel Laxton (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 5th, Will Forster (Fareham SC).

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Sahota 2-1 Wilson, Donovan 2-0 Wyatt.

FINAL (25/18 points): Donovan 2-1 Sahota.