Wells bows out with first win
GREENBAIZE club members queued up to pay tribute to Mark Wells who bowed out of junior snooker with a first tournament win in his final event.
The hard-working and popular 21-year-old (pictured) collected the winner’s trophy at the eighth and last leg of the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour at Salisbury Snooker Club.
Wells, who runs the Saturday morning junior section at the Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth, defeated 13-year-old clubmate Bradley Cowdroy 3-0 in the final.
“I can’t believe I’ve won the last one,” he said. “I really wanted it today. I didn’t think it would happen until I was in the final.”
“It was a good final. Brad played well. I’ve seen him develop.
“They’re a great bunch (at Greenbaize). It’s so rewarding. It’s nice to win one myself but from now on it’s all about them winning.”
Cowdroy said: “He really does deserve it. He does such a good job at the Saturday morning sessions. For it to be his last one and his first win, I feel really good for him.”
And Gold Tour rankings winner Brad Chappell added: “Mark is so dedicated on a Saturday morning. On behalf of Greenbaize, I want to say thank you for everything you do. Winning it on your last one is absolutely brilliant.”
Wells ended the title aspirations of Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) with a 3-1 last-four victory.
Cowdroy accounted from James Budd (Fareham) 3-2 in the second semi.
Budd said: “Brad played well against me and battled through when 2-1 behind. I think he will become a professional when he gets older.”
Last season, Chappell shared the rankings title with Mark Lloyd, who missed the Salisbury leg because he was otherwise engaged in winning the English Under-16 Championship final in Stoke.
Chappell edged two points ahead of Lloyd despite failing to qualify for the knockout for the first time this season.
He set off like a train with breaks of 73 and 57 in his first match, a 2-0 victory over 11-year-old Mickey Joyce (Basingstoke), but finished third in his group.
“I usually start slow and build up,” he said. “Mickey is going to be absolutely brilliant. Against a player like that, you don’t expect to do what I did. Then I dipped massively.
“I’m happy to win it. I’ve only got one more year (in this age group).”
Rice could have snatched the title by winning the final.
The top-16 ranked players will be invited to Finals Day on May 17 at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, for the championship play-off. Special guest Joe Perry will present the trophies and play exhibition frames against all the winners.
BREAKS
Brad Chappell: 73, 57.
Anthony Rice: 54, 41.
Mark Wells: 53.
James Budd: 45.
Callum Browne: 41.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, James Budd (Stoke SC, Gosport); 2nd, Mark Wells (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Brad Chappell (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Mickey Joyce (Chandler’s Ford SC); 5th, Nathan Farmer (Stoke SC, Gosport); 6th, Dan Sykes (Chandler’s Ford SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Anthony Rice (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Jamie Wilson (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 4th, Callum Browne (Player’s, Westbury); 5th, Austen Petty (Chandler’s Ford SC).
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Wells 3 Rice 1, Cowdroy 3 Budd 2.
FINAL (£40/£15 25/18 points): Wells 3 Cowdroy 0.
Report and picture by Tim Dunkley.