Summer boost for Cowdroy

A BOURNEMOUTH teenager received a major boost ahead of the new season by landing the junior Summer Classic at Greenbaize Snooker Club. The 14-year-old collected £80 after seeing off clubmate Brad Chappell 2-0 on home tables in the final of the event for players aged under-22.

Tournament organiser Warren Blamey said that 21-year-old Chappell (Poole), “crumbled under an onslaught of fine potting and tidy safety play” from his talented left-handed opponent.  Cowdroy said: “It’s always tough to play Brad and the frames probably turned on the odd shot at crucial times. “It was a pleasant surprise to win, considering I haven’t been playing that well since the end of the season. “It does give me confidence going into the new season, knowing that I can start winning tournaments again.”

In the semi-finals, Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge), who pocketed the £10 high-break prize for a 63 in the group stages, lost 3-2 to Chappell while Cowdroy defeated Nat Kidner, another home player, 3-0.Connor Benzey (Eastleigh) compiled breaks of 57 and 37 in a 2-0 Plate final victory over Arron Smith (Selsey).

Cowdroy, whose highest competitive break is now 74, made his debut on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour at the age of eight. He now plays on the Cuestars Gold Tour and also competes on the EASB Regional Junior Tour South, the feeder circuit for the national under-21 tour. This season, he reached the last-16 of the English Under-14 Championship.Earlier this summer, he joined an elite group of players who have completed all ten levels of the Cuestars Coaching Programme.

RESULTS (BREAKS)

Group 1: Adam Cowdroy (Bournemouth) 3-0 Riley Ellis (Swindon), Nat Kidner (Bournemouth) 3-2 Ellis, Kidner 3-2 Cowdroy.

Group 2: Bradley Cowdroy (Bournemouth) (44) 3-1 Connor Benzey (Eastleigh), Benzey 3-2 Kaine Petty (Fordingbridge), Bradley Cowdroy 3-0 Kaine Petty.

Group 3: Brad Chappell (Poole) 3-1 Arron Smith (Selsey), David Rice (Fordingbridge) (45) 3-2 Smith, Chappell (53) 3-2 Rice.

Group 4: Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) (63) 3-1 Keegan Reed (Salisbury), Ally Pollard (Alderholt) 3-2 David O’Callaghan (Bournemouth), Rice (52) 3-0 O’Callaghan, Reed 3-1 Pollard, Rice (54) 3-0 Pollard, O’Callaghan 3-0 Reed.

Semi-finals: B Cowdroy (53) 3-0 Kidner, Chappell 3-2 A Rice.

Final (£80/£40): B Cowdroy 3-0 Chappell.

Plate final: Benzey (57, 37) 2-0 Smith.

Finalists Brad Chappell (left) and Bradley Cowdroy picture by Warren Blamey.