Two out of three ain’t bad
A YOUNG potter from Bristol secured the runner-up spot on a regional snooker circuit after a “not bad” season.
Aidan Murphy needed to win the tenth and final leg of the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour and hope that rankings leader Bradley Cowdroy made a group-stage exit.
The 13-year-old achieved the first part but Cowdroy (Bournemouth) qualified for the knockout to clinch the title.
In a repeat of the eighth leg in Salisbury, Murphy beat Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) 2-0 in the final of the event sponsored by Pitman Training Southampton at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.
He said: “I played really well in the first frame but in the second frame it was really hot and my hands were sticky and I kept missing easy balls.”
Murphy, who lost to Rice in the group-stages, beat Cowdroy 2-0 in the last-four.
Only once this season has the youngster failed to qualify for the knockout. He has won two of his five finals and lost once in the semis and three times in the quarters.
Despite that consistent run, Murphy – who is sponsored by Elite Mobility, Hanham Flooring Centre and NH Couriers – said the eight-month campaign had had its “ups and downs” and had been “a bit good and a bit bad”.
Ryan Hughes (Chandlers Ford) was undefeated in his six-man group and went out 2-1 to Rice in the semis.
Cowdroy recorded the day’s highest break of 87 in the opening frame of his first match against Connor Benzey (Eastleigh).
For more information about Pitman Training Southampton, go to www.pitman-training.com/our-centres/england/southampton.
BREAKS
Bradley Cowdroy: 87, 70, 53, 52.
Oliver Sykes: 80.
Anthony Rice: 71, 42.
Connor Benzey: 67, 64, 55, 54, 40.
Jamie Wilson: 65.
Aidan Murphy: 64, 43, 43, 41.
Evan Plummer: 62, 47.
Ryan Hughes: 61.
Olly Gibbs: 44.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Ryan Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Connor Benzey (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Oliver Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Olly Gibbs (Chandlers Ford SC); 6th, Elliott Weston (Top Spot, Havant).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Aidan Murphy (Brislington & St Annes Conservative Club, Bristol); 2nd, Anthony Rice (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Jamie Wilson (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, Evan Plummer (Frames, Coulsdon); 5th, Steven Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC).
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Rice 2-1 R Hughes, Murphy 2-0 Cowdroy.
FINAL (£55/£27.50, 25/18 points): Murphy 2-0 Rice.
Picture by Tim Dunkley, from left: Anthony Rice, Paul Lawrence (operations manager of Pitman Training Southampton) and Aidan Murphy.
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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)