Portsmouth pair fall just short in bid for top spot as Cuestars under-21 circuit continues

Daniel Walter reached a bronze tour final for the first time while amuel Laxton’s run of four silver semi-final exits this season ended in style.

The pair are both now placed second in their respective rankings following the seventh legs of 10.

Walter was unbeaten in his six-man round-robin group.

The 15-year-old, who is based at Gosport's Mayfair Snooker Club, overcame Jake Sharp and Ryan Kneller in the knockout stages by 2-1 scorelines.

His excellent run was ended in a 2-0 defeat by champion Harry Wyatt, from Ferndown.

But Wyatt, 10, had this to say about his opponent: ‘I was really pleased for Daniel for making his first final as he has been consistent in making the knockouts all year but never quite made the final.’

Laxton, meanwhile, beat his Waterlooville Sports Bar club-mate Thomas Sharp 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

The 14-year-old produced a trademark, hard-fought performance to edge Bournemouth-based David O’Callaghan 2-1 in the last four but went down 2-0 to runaway rankings leader Lee Whaley, from London.

Will Forster overcame Londoner Elliott Johnson, who was second in the rankings, 2-1 in the last eight before losing 2-0 to Whaley.

There were group stage exits for Owen Jenkins and Callum White on the silver tour, while Aaron Wilson, George Laxton, Ryan Wilson, Tyler Mack and Archie Shaw fell at the same stage in the bronze.

Havant's Top Spot Snooker Club hosts the eighth legs of the circuit on Sunday March 15.

For more information about the sponsor Fareham SC, visit www.farehamsnooker.co.uk

Elsewhere, Jamie Wilson finished his debut season on the national under-21 circuit in 18th place out of 32.

The 16-year-old was second in his group in the fifth leg in south London and lost 3-1 to Brandon Hall, from Gateshead, in the last-16.

Back at Waterlooville Sports Bar the following day, Wilson was installed as favourite to land his first Monday Junior Snooker League title.

Conceding a 40-point handicap start to all of his opponents, he won the top group and opened up a five-point lead with two weeks remaining.

Samuel Laxton wrapped up his fifth Wednesday Junior Snooker League title by a record-equalling margin of 24 points from Owen Jenkins.

Tyler ‘magic’ Mack claimed the Division 2 title by three points from George Laxton and Ryan Wilson.

Aaron Wilson recorded a new high break of 28 against Carter Wells.

Division 1 leader Rhys Pearce lost twice to Keira Jackson in the Junior Pool League but ended the session with eight wins out of 12, edging Keira Hiscock for maximum points on the head-to-head rule.

World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley runs snooker sessions for under-19s from 4.30-6.30pm every Monday and Wednesday and junior pool sessions from 4.30-6.30pm every Thursday.