News from Tim Dunkley

REPRESENTING ENGLAND.........

MARCHWOOD cousins Billy and Shane Castle are set to become country cousins.

A week after ten-year-old Shane was selected for the England under-14 clash against Scotland in Leeds this weekend, Billy was called up for the England under-16 B side for the Home Internationals.

The 16-year-old said: “It’s a dream come true. I was so happy it was unreal.”

Delighted dad Derek said: “It’s brilliant; I’m over the moon.”

An English Association of Snooker & Billiards spokesman said Castle had narrowly missed out on the A team for the week-long event starting next Saturday at Pontin’s World Snooker Centre, Prestatyn.

Coach Ken Jones paid tribute to Castle’s practice partner and former England international Mike Finn.

“I asked Mike to play him because he’s arguably the best player around here,” explained the 64-year-old ex-Saints star.

Castle is the first of Jones’ boys to represent their country.

“He’s worked hard and I think he deserves it,” added Jones. “I was thrilled to bits for him. I’m pleased for him and I’m pleased for his family.”

Castle’s rise to glory began at the Pontin’s under-16 ‘Star of the Future’ festival in February 2007.

Derek said: “That really opened his eyes up.”

And the youngster agreed. “I saw the standard up there and I knew what level I had to get up to,” he said. “I just practised, practised, practised.”

He became the first player to clinch the region’s ‘Triple Crown’ of junior competitions: the Eastleigh and District Under-19 Premier title, the Chandler’s Ford Under-21 Roll-Up and the South of England Cuestars Under-15 title.

A quarter-final place in this year’s ‘Star of the Future’ was followed by a last 16 exit in the EASB national under-16 championship. In April he gained promotion to the EASB Premier Junior Tour after just one season on the Southern Regional Tour.

The following month Castle was crowned under-16 champion at the Pontin’s Spring Festival.

All reports have been sent in by Tim Dunkley and his team ...... thanks Tim