David Rice joins half-century club

DAVID Rice has continued his remarkable progress over the last year by smashing through the half-century barrier.

The 20-year-old from Fordingbridge (pictured) cleared the table for a 55 against John Barton in the Tuesday Singles League at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

“It felt amazing,” said Rice, whose personal best last January was 29. “I was playing well as I beat my previous highest match break with a 34 on Sunday.

“I’m playing a lot better as I’m putting in more hours into practising.”

Rice did run out of position on the green but produced a good recovery shot to get position on the brown.

After deciding to take the game more seriously last summer, Rice made his debut on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour last season and finished fifth.

He reached the semi-finals on his Cuestars outing last December and later that month finished second amongst the Bronze players and third overall in the Cuestars Skills Challenge in Salisbury.

In January, he lost to the eventual rankings winner Steven Hughes in the final in Woking. In February, he won the Plate in Swindon. In May, he claimed a first tournament win in the final leg in Salisbury.

Report and picture by Tim Dunkley.