Prestatyn
EASTLEIGH’S
Mike Finn has vowed to “win one soon” after finishing runner-up in a major
tournament at the World Snooker Centre in Prestatyn for a second time.
The
22-year-old was beaten 3-1 by the 2004 IBSF world under-21 champion Gary Wilson,
a former professional, in the 20/40 final at the Pontin’s Autumn Festival.
Finn
lost 5-0 to Jamie Cope, now world No 19, in the Pontin’s Open final in May,
2005, on the tables used for the pre-TV stages of professional tournaments.
“I
can play on those tables,” said The Mighty Finn, who collected £250.
“A
lot of people struggle but I find it much easier.
“To
do anything in snooker, that’s the place where you’ve got to do it.
“It’s
the best place to play in the world; it seems to bring the best out of me.”
A
94 break set Finn up for a 3-0 win against Michael Gallagher (Scotland). He then
saw off Delme Norris (Wales) 3-0, Lee Payne (West Mids) 3-1, Alan Dawber
(Bolton) 3-0 and Robbie Williams (Merseyside) 3-1.
The
former England international works for Restoration firm Rainbow International
and plays in the Southampton social clubs league for Premier outfit Woolston
Cons A.
Not
without his critics, Finn is without doubt the most naturally gifted player in
the region.
“I
like to party,” he admitted. “That’s well-documented.
“But
you don’t really want to go to a place like that and do things like you do at
home.
“You
don’t have those tables around here, anywhere.
“Once
you’re up there you’ve really got to give yourself a chance to play well. It
makes you feel like a proper snooker player when you go into that sort of
environment with those sort of players.”
Businessland
Under-21s at Prestatyn
By
Tim Dunkley
Eastleigh left-hander WILL
BAIRD has picked up his first Pontin’s cash prize at the World Snooker Centre
in Prestatyn.
The
delighted 17-year-old collected £25 after a 2-0 Plate semi-final exit to Grant
Cole (Plymouth) in the Businessland Under-21s event-two.
In
fact, West Country lads accounted for all three of the region’s entries.
Alex
Dunkley (Bursledon), unbeaten in the group stages with breaks of 58, 51 and 63,
beat Christopher Hoare (Preston) 3-0 in the last-32 but lost 3-1 to Kris Vincent
(Plymouth) in the last-16.
Dunkley
pocketed £40.
Otterbourne’s
Nick Jennings (£80) lost 3-1 in the quarter-finals to Darren Bond (Tiverton).