Double delight for Hurley

RAYLEIGH snooker talent William Hurley had a weekend to remember on the green baize.

The 12-year-old claimed his first winner’s trophy on the Cuestars Under-21 Bronze Snooker Tour in Swindon.

And the previous day, he booked a place in the last-16 of the southern half of the PowerGlide English Under-14 Championship.

Following his victory in the qualifying tournament at Cousins Professional Snooker & Pool Club in Holloway, London, Hurley travelled to Jesters Snooker Club for the fourth leg of the Bronze Tour.

Unbeaten in the round-robin group stage, he defeated Londoner Rayan El Qmache – who was making his first appearance in a knockout – 2-1 in the last-eight and leg-two winner Donnie Gola (Islington) 2-1 in the semi-finals.

He then claimed the silverware by beating Adam Abbas (Brighton) 2-0.

Abbas – another of WPBSA coach Kai Michael’s much-improved stable of young players from the Castle SC, Brighton – reached his first final by beating leg-one winner Ellise Scott (Eastleigh) 2-1 and Lennon Savage (Southampton) 2-1 in the knockout.

Hurley, who is based at The Lanes Sports Bar, moves up to second place in the rankings but misses the trip to Havant in January because of an extended Christmas break to the west coast of New Zealand.

Christopher Woodward (Chandler’s Ford) made a group-stage exit but remains in top spot. Savage recorded the day’s highest break of 33.

The event was sponsored by Don Rogers Sports (www.donrogerssports.co.uk), Clean-Cut (www.clean-cut.co.uk) and Jesters Snooker Club (www.jesterssnooker.co.uk).

The fifth legs of ten on Sunday, January 8, are split between two clubs. Top Spot Snooker Club, Havant, hosts the Bronze Tour while Silver and Gold will be at Waterlooville Sports Bar.

BREAKS

Lennon Savage: 33, 20.
Donnie Gola: 31, 28, 20.
Oliver Donnelly: 26.
Christopher Woodward: 22.
William Hurley: 28, 24, 20, 20.

BRONZE RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, William Hurley (Lanes Sports Bar, Rayleigh); 2nd, Yusuf Matib (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 3rd, Christopher Woodward (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Isaac Wong.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Ellise Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Archie Light (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Samuel Walter (Copnor SC); 4th, Marshal Denieffe (London Snooker Tooting).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Lennon Savage (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Rayan El Qmache (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross); 3rd, Oliver Donnelly (Surrey Snooker Academy); 4th, Lee Clayden (Hurricane Room, Kings Cross).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Donnie Gola (Mildmay Club); 2nd, Adam Abbas (Castle SC, Brighton); 3rd, Tyler Beer (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Jaydon Elliott (147 SC, Swindon); 5th, Dylan Denieffe (London Snooker Tooting).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Hurley 2-1 El Qmache, Gola 2-0 Light, Abbas 2-1 Scott, Savage 2-0 Matib.

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

FINAL (25/18 points): Hurley 2-0 Abbas.