Comeback kid Lennon claims first Bronze win

LENNON Savage has disproved the old saying ‘never go back’ by collecting his first winner’s trophy on the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Tour.

And the result earned the 12-year-old from Southampton pole position in the race for the title.

Savage didn’t play for a year following the Covid lockdowns but has since made up for lost time.

His comeback passed a major milestone when he defeated Donnie Gola (Islington) 2-1 in the final of the fifth leg at Top Spot Snooker Club, Havant.

Savage, who described Gola as a “great opponent”, said: “I’ve wanted to achieve this goal since returning to snooker last year.”

Apart from winning his first tournament, he said the highlight of the day was overcoming his arch Cuestars nemesis Christopher Woodward (Chandler’s Ford) 2-0 in the last-eight.

Lee Clayden (Chingford) qualified from his group for the first time and went on to reach the last-four. His fine run ended in a 2-0 defeat by Gola. Adam Abbas (Brighton), runner-up in Swindon last month, lost 2-1 to Savage in the second semi. Marshal Denieffe (London) made it through to the quarter-finals for the first time.

Each of the five legs have produced different winners in what promises to be an extremely close race for the title. Woodward dropped to second place. Gola moved up to third.

The event was sponsored by www.snookercrazy.com and Waterlooville Sports Bar (www.facebook.com/Wsportsbar).

Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, hosts the sixth leg of ten on Sunday, January 29.

BREAKS

Donnie Gola: 29, 20.
Lennon Savage: 25.
Gus Walker: 20.
Lee Clayden: 20.
Oliver Li: 20
Daniel McGowan: 20.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Christopher Woodward (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Matthew Jameson (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Zac Perrie (Castle SC, Brighton); 4th, Michael Dean (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Lee Clayden (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 2nd, Lennon Savage (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Ryan Collins (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, Gus Holdaway (Castle SC, Brighton).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Donnie Gola (Mildmay Club); 2nd, Oliver Li (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Dylan Denieffe (London Snooker Tooting); 4th, Liam Piggott (Waterlooville Sports Bar).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Tyler Beer (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Adam Abbas (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Gus Walker (Castle SC, Brighton); 4th, Daniel McGowan (Frames, Coulsdon); 5th, Samuel Walter (Copnor SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP E: 1st, Marshal Denieffe (London Snooker Tooting); 2nd, Archie Light (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Chris Bennett (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Oliver Donnelly (Surrey Snooker Academy); 5th, Brett Knight (Castle SC, Brighton).

LAST-16 (10 points): Woodward 1-0 Donnelly, Savage 1-0 D Denieffe, Abbas 1-0 Li, M Denieffe 1-0 Collins, Beer 1-0 Perrie, Gola 1-0 Bennett, Light 1-0 Jameson, Clayden 1-0 Walker.

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Savage 2-0 Woodward, Abbas 2-0 M Denieffe, Gola 2-0 Beer, Clayden 2-1 Light.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Savage 2-1 Abbas, Gola 2-0 Clayden.

FINAL (25/18 points): Savage 2-1 Gola.