Castle denies first-time finalist Eastwood in Newbury

EX-PROFESSIONAL Billy Castle pocketed £250 for winning the third leg of the Cuestars Championship Tour at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury.

The 32-year-old from Reading wrapped up a 3-0 victory over first-time finalist Henry Eastwood with a 78 clearance

Castle dropped only three frames all day and made seven breaks of 50 or more in the event sponsored by Reading-based P L Auto Services

However, he said his finishing was the best part of his game during the day and he was able to capitalise on multiple occasions to steal frames.

Eastwood (Banstead, Surrey) collected £100 on his return to the circuit after a break of nearly six years.

Rankings leader Mark Lloyd had his scoring boots on in the first round. The 25-year-old from Gosport put together breaks of 126, 84, 61 and 50 in his 3-0 victory over Ryan Spratt (Botley).

Riley Ellis (Swindon), competing in his 99th Cuestars tournament at all levels, reached his first semi-final on the Championship Tour. Dan Webb (Bournemouth) also made a first appearance in the last-four.

Tessa Davidson, the current women’s world seniors champion, won the Plate competition. The 55-year-old from Banbury defeated Bradley Cowdroy (Bournemouth) 2-1 in a high-scoring final.

Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, hosts the fourth leg of nine on Sunday, December 8.

RESULTS (BREAKS)

PRELIMS: Garry Coulson 3-1 Ray Grall, Justin Eggins 0-3 (70, 50) Wayne Townsend, Bradley Cowdroy 2-3 Dharminder Lilly, Dan Webb (50) 3-1 Jake Fowler, Ryan Spratt 0-3 (126, 84, 61, 50) Mark Lloyd, Isaac Wong 0-3 Henry Eastwood, Grant Mason 3-0 Nick O’Sullivan, O’Shay Scott 2-3 Paul Davis, Billy Castle 3-1 Tessa Davidson, Evan Plummer 2-3 Jason Pusser, Labeeb Ahmed 3-1 Rikki Moore, Liam O’Shea 3-2 Kevin Palmer, Dan Hall 1-3 Ryan Hughes, Jack Squires 3-2 Jake Baker, Riley Ellis 3-1 John Donovan.

LAST-16: Garry Coulson (76, 56, 50) 3-2 Wayne Townsend, Dharminder Lilly 2-3 Dan Webb, Mark Lloyd 2-3 (74) Henry Eastwood, Grant Mason 3-1 Paul Davis, Billy Castle (63, 50) 3-1 Jason Pusser, Labeeb Ahmed 3-1 Liam O’Shea, Ryan Hughes 3-0 Jack Squires, Riley Ellis 3-2 Ronnie Sullivan.

QUARTER-FINALS: Garry Coulson 0-3 Dan Webb, Henry Eastwood 3-2 Grant Mason, Billy Castle (78, 50) 3-0 Labeeb Ahmed, Ryan Hughes 0-3 Riley Ellis.

SEMI-FINALS (£35): Dan Webb 0-3 Henry Eastwood, Billy Castle (52, 50) 3-1 Riley Ellis.

FINAL (£250/£100): Billy Castle (78) 3-0 Henry Eastwood.

PLATE RESULTS (BREAKS)

PRELIMS: Evan Plummer (70) 2-0 Kevin Palmer, Ryan Spratt 2-1 Nick O’Sullivan, Tessa Davidson 2-0 John Donovan, Isaac Wong 1-2 Jake Baker, Justin Eggins 0-2 O’Shay Scott, Rikki Moore 0-2 Jake Fowler.

QUARTER-FINALS: Evan Plummer 2-1 Ryan Spratt, Tessa Davidson (59) 2-0 Jake Baker, O’Shay Scott 2-1 Jake Fowler, Ray Grall 0-2 (52) Bradley Cowdroy.

SEMI-FINALS: Tessa Davidson 2-1 Evan Plummer, Bradley Cowdroy 2-0 O’Shay Scott.

FINAL (£30/£15): Tessa Davidson (52) 2-1 (60) Bradley Cowdroy.

By Tim Dunkley and Steven Hughes