Student heartbreak in Leeds
TWO former Cuestars players were doubly disappointed after suffering semi-final heartbreak at the British Universities & Colleges Sport Championships in Leeds.
Richie Reynolds, originally from Thatcham SC, captained the University of Southampton’s first team and Dave Joce, once a member at Aldershot SC, skippered the second side.
Both student teams were knocked out in the last-four of their respective competitions by the eventual champions at the Northern Snooker Centre.
It was Southampton’s best performance since 2003.
Southampton 1 lost 6-4 to Queen’s University, Belfast, who went on to claim their ninth Championship success.
After progressing through the group stages, the five-man team drew 5-5 with Cardiff in the last-eight. Team spokesman Tom Norton described Reynolds’ tie-break victory as “awesome”.
In the Shield, Southampton 2 topped their group with three wins. They saw off Imperial College, London, 6-2 but were beaten 6-3 by Oxford in the last-four.
Joce said: “The quality of the teams in the semi-finals was pretty much the same. It was a coin toss who won it.”
Both teams have been working with World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley.
Reynolds has been picked for the England Universities team for the Home Nations in Ireland next month.
Picture by Kevin Legg: Richie Reynolds is on the far right in the back row and Dave Joce is far left in the front row.
GROUP-STAGE RESULTS
Soton 1: 6-4 Queen’s 2; 8-2 York 2; 8-2 London School of Economics; 3-7 Warwick.
Soton 2: 9-1 Kent; 7-3 Nottingham 3; 6-4 Leeds.