Rankings leader Donovan secures back-to-back wins

THERE was an early birthday present for Somers Town teenager John Donovan in the fourth leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Silver Tour at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon.

The day before he turned 16, Donovan collected his second successive winner’s trophy and strengthened his lead at the top of the rankings.

He beat Simon Bubb (Ealing Common) 2-0 in the final. Both lads are from WPBSA coach John Woods’ Gone2Pot stable of players.

Ten-year-old Asten Sahota (Southampton) qualified for his first knockout since winning promotion as the youngest ever Bronze Tour champion and went out 2-1 to Bubb in the last-four.

Second-placed Laxton, who won the first leg in Salisbury, lost 2-1 to Donovan in the second semi.

Mason Wilson (Basingstoke) – who, along with a lot of our lads, is now in Sheffield for the World Snooker Federation Junior Championship – recorded the highest break of 52, made a group-stage exit but went on to win the Plate competition.

The event was sponsored by trophy supplier Don Rogers Sports (www.donrogerssports.co.uk) and Swindon-based window cleaners Clean Cut (www.clean-cut.co.uk)

Fareham Snooker Club hosts the fifth leg of eight on Sunday, March 20.

BREAKS

Mason Wilson: 52.
Simon Bubb: 36.
John Donovan: 31, 31.
William Thomson: 31.

SILVER RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, John Donovan (Cousins, London); 2nd, Asten Sahota (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Will Forster (Fareham SC); 4th, William Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Simon Bubb (Cousins, London); 2nd, Samuel Laxton (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 3rd, Harry Wyatt (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Mason Wilson (Academy, Basingstoke).

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Bubb 2-1 Sahota, Donovan 2-1 Laxton.

FINAL (25/18 points): Donovan 2-0 Bubb.

Picture: John Donovan (left) and Roy Elliott, from Clean Cut.