Mutch improved

IT WAS a near 600-mile round trip that was worth every precious drop of petrol.

Cambridge teenager Jonny Mutch (pictured) was rewarded for his long journey to Plymouth with a first ever appearance in a final on the EASB Regional Junior Tour South.

Now in his second season on the under-20 circuit, the 15-year-old, who spent six years living in Thailand, produced his best performance in the third leg at the Belgrave Snooker Club.

“It felt great reaching the final,” said the Cuestars Gold Tour player. “Especially as I had to beat some very talented players along the way.

“I am very happy with the progress I’ve made over the past year – as I’ve only been in competition snooker in England for just over a year.”

In the group stages, Mutch defeated Sam Storey (Newbury) 2-1 and Jordan Vincent (Wickford, Essex) 3-0 but lost 2-1 to Jamie Wilkes (Bristol) and Lennard Cripps (London).

He beat Vincent, again, 2-1 in the last-eight and Dan Knox (Ascot) 2-0 in the semi-finals before going down 2-0 to Aaron Lowe (Bristol).

Mutch was a group-stage casualty in all seven outings in 2013/14 but made the quarter-finals for the first time in the second leg this season on home tables at Cambridge Snooker Club.

Report and picture by Tim Dunkley.