Sotonsnooker

Chandler's Ford Under-21 Roll-Up

Dan Hildyard, benefiting from playing billiards as well as snooker, is stretching ahead in Series 14 of the Chandlers Ford under 21 Championship. The combination of learning those additional angles on the full sized tables, enabling the Fair Oak potter to lay snookers, escape from snookers, enhance his positional play and make use canons to disturb colours from difficult positions.

All credit to you Dan, for taking your place with the Bishopstoke team, and increasing your knowledge of the green baize.

earlier news

MARCHWOOD’S England international Billy Castle described his victory in this week’s Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up as “one of the best finals I’ve played”.  

In a rare appearance in a final, Daniel Woods took the first frame with a 54 and led 2-0. Castle levelled and won the decider on the brown with a 60.

After his third win of the series, the 16-year-old said: “First frame he destroyed me; I didn’t score a point.

“I worked my socks off to win the last three.”

Castle cleared for an 82 in a 4-1 last-eight victory against Kevin Impett (Totton) and posted breaks of 45 and 70 in the second frame of a 3-0 semi-final win against his cousin Shane Castle.

Ten-year-old Shane’s 3-0 first-round victory ended Dan Hildyard’s hopes of a fourth straight tournament win.

A cash comp replaces the Roll-Up for the next two weeks due to the EASB Regional Junior Tour (South) at Fareham SC today and the EASB Premier Junior Tour in Stockport next weekend.

Series half-centuries total: 64

Top six: Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) 89 pts, Billy Castle (Marchwood) 78, Shane Castle (Marchwood) 68, Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) 66, Ollie Tydeman (C/Ford) 60, Jordan Sainsbury (C/Ford) 54.

earlier news

JORDAN Sainsbury’s hours on the practice table paid off with a personal best break in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

Trailing 1-0 to England under-14 international Shane Castle in the semi-finals, Sainsbury levelled with a 61 but lost 3-1.

The 15-year-old missed the black off its spot while trying to develop more reds.

Sainsbury, who is in his last year at Thornden School and lives within walking distance of the club, started competing nationally at the Pontin’s junior festival in February this year.

Last month he made his debut on the EASB Regional Junior Tour (South).

Five days after his 18th birthday, Dan Hildyard opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the rankings.

The defending champion from Fair Oak is favourite to clinch a fifth title with 12 of the 20 weeks played.

Hildyard beat ten-year-old Castle 3-0 in the final.

In a marathon two-and-a-quarter-hour last-eight clash, Kevin Impett (Totton) fought back from 3-1 down against Dan’s brother Jason and won 4-3 on a fluked black.

Breaks: Ollie Tydeman 84, Billy Castle 83 and 51, Jordan Sainsbury 61 and Dan Hildyard 54.

Series half-centuries total: 58.

Top six: Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) 68, Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) 60 pts, Billy Castle (Marchwood) 56, Shane Castle (Marchwood) 55, Ollie Tydeman (C/Ford) 53, Jordan Sainsbury (C/Ford) 44.

TEN-year-old Shane Castle potted 11 reds and ten blacks in the quarter-finals of the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

But hopes of a maximum faded as the Marchwood wonderkid, on 81, missed a tricky cutback on the black with two reds in the open and two more on cushions.

The fourth highest break in the 11 weeks of series 14 came in the final frame of a 3-1 victory over Jordan Sainsbury.

Castle eased past Kevin Impett (Totton) 3-0 in the semis but lost 3-1 in the final to his fellow England international and 16-year-old cousin Billy.

Castle senior, in third place, closed the gap at the top after beating rankings leader Alex Dunkley 4-3 and second-placed Dan Hildyard 3-1.

Dunkley, 20, scored a 78 in the last eight defeat.  

Romsey youngster Ben Spiers scored a shock 2-1 last-four Plate victory over Jason Hildyard, an EASB Regional Junior Tour (South) event-one semi-finalist.

And in the final, the 14-year-old won the second frame against Arron McIntyre after missing an easy final black in the first.

McIntyre, 20, who won 2-1, said: “He should’ve beaten me 2-0.”

Series half-centuries total: 52

Top six: Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) 60 pts, Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) 60, Billy Castle (Marchwood) 52, Ollie Tydeman (C/Ford) 51, Shane Castle (Marchwood) 49, Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) 43.

ONE of England’s top-48 under-21s came within a whisker of a shock exit to Kevin Impett in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

In a hugely-entertaining best-of-three final, Impett, 17, took the first frame on the black but missed a match-winning chance in the second against four-time champion Dan Hildyard.

Leading by 15 points with the last red hanging over the middle pocket, Impett took on a long blue – but missed.

His opponent grabbed the lifeline and ran out a 2-1 winner.

“If he got his act together he’d probably turn out a decent player,” said Hildyard, who did not drop a frame up to the final despite posting a top break of only 48.

Hildyard, 17, who eased past Alex Dunkley 3-0 in the last eight, believes there is “all to play for again” after ending the ranking leader’s 17-match unbeaten run.

“I was eight points behind, now it’s two,” he said. “I feel I can win it again.”

Both players miss tournaments for the EASB Premier Junior Tour but Dunkley will also be away for the Pontin’s Businessland Under-21. 

Impett fought back from 2-0 down to beat Glenn Shefford 3-2 in the first round. He edged out Ollie Tydeman 3-2 in a marathon quarter-final match and reached only his second scratch final with a 3-1 fluked-pink victory over Shane Castle, ten.

Jordan Sainsbury (C/Ford) beat Shefford (Eastleigh) 3-1 to notch up a second straight Plate final victory.

Week-nine breaks: Dunkley 55 and 51, Tydeman 61.

Series half-centuries total: 50

Top five: Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) 58 pts, Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) 56, Billy Castle (Marchwood) 44, Ollie Tydeman (C/Ford) 43, Shane Castle (Marchwood) 37.

previous news

TEN-year-old Shane Castle’s 89 break proved to be the best in another bumper day for half-centuries in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

Trailing 2-0 in the quarter-finals, the England under-14 international stunned Ollie Tydeman, 18, by squaring the match and taking the decider with the third highest break of the series.

Castle added a 68 against Alex Dunkley in the semi-final but lost 3-1.

Rankings leader Dunkley fought back from 2-0 down to beat second-placed Dan Hildyard 3-2 in the final.

Hildyard, 17, took the lead with a 50. Dunkley replied with 52 and levelled the match with a 32 clearance. He won the fifth on the brown.

Dunkley, who had scored a 56 in a 3-0 first-round victory over Dan’s 16-year-old brother Jason, is unbeaten in the last four Roll-Up tournaments he has competed in.

Earlier, Dan Hildyard fired in a 52 in a fifth-frame decider against Jordan Winbourne who had led 2-1. Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) made a 51 in a decider against Daniel Woods (Hedge End) but was on the receiving end of a 58 in a quarter-final decider against Billy Castle.

Jordan Sainsbury beat Jamie Brooks 2-0 in an all C/Ford Plate final.

Series half-centuries: 47.

Top six after eight weeks: Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) 54 pts, Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) 46, Billy Castle (Marchwood) 40, Ollie Tydeman (C/Ford) 39, Shane Castle (Marchwood) 33, Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak) 30.

OLLIE Tydeman climbed one place to third in the 20-week Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up after a second tournament victory of the series.

The 18-year-old took a 2-0 lead but Jason Hildyard, who was appearing in a first final since January, 2007, pulled one back with a 44.

A long battle on the colours in the fourth ended with Tydeman sinking the pink for a 3-1 victory.

The top three in the rankings were in action on the EASB Premier Junior Tour in Leicester.

Tydeman, who also won the week-one final, said: “It was a bit of a struggle but I got there in the end.

“With Dan, Billy and Alex away today, nothing but a win would’ve done.”

Ten-year-old England international Shane Castle posted a 72 to take a 3-2 first-round lead against Jordan Winbourne, but lost 4-3.

Series half-century breaks: 39.

FIVE-time champion Alex Dunkley wrapped up a third straight Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up final victory to extend his series-14 lead.

The 20-year-old from Bursledon was forced to dig deep as England international Billy Castle took the first two frames in the final.

Dunkley won a fifth-frame decider with a long pink.

“The last three weeks I’ve played three different people in the final,” he said. “Which proves that the overall standard is going up.”

In fact, Hampshire’s top juniors are on course to smash the record for the number of half-century breaks scored during the 20-week competition.

Series ten and 11 each yielded 105 breaks of 50 or more. This series they have posted 38 in just six weeks.

On his Roll-Up debut, Ben Spiers produced a shock 3-2 victory over Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak).

And the 14-year-old from Romsey came within two balls of taking a frame off Dunkley.

“I was impressed by Ben’s potting,” said Dunkley. “With a little bit of safety he’d win a lot more frames.”

Shane Castle, ten, posted breaks of 42 and 48 in a 3-0 Plate final victory against Jordan Sainsbury.

Week six breaks: Dan Hildyard 68 and 61, Dunkley 58 and 52, Billy Castle 52, Ollie Tydeman 50.

Top six: Dunkley (Bursledon) 44 pts, Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) 38, Billy Castle (Marchwood) 34, Tydeman (C/Ford) 27, Shane Castle (Marchwood) 23, Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak) 21.

in previous weeks

KEVIN IMPETT produced probably the best result of his short career to reach a first Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up final since handicaps were abolished nearly a year ago.

The 17-year-old pulled off a shock 3-2 victory over EASB Premier Junior Tour player Dan Hildyard and was two balls from beating five-time champion Alex Dunkley in the final.

Impett, whose more measured style often frustrates his quick-fire opponents, only started competitive snooker in May, 2006.

In a marathon quarter-final tie, he beat Jason Hildyard, 15, 4-3.

Jason’s 17-year-old brother Dan had the shock of his life as Impett starting clearing the table in a fifth-frame decider in the semis.

After missing the match-ball blue and leaving it near the green pocket, Impett made no mistake when gifted a second chance.

“Even with handicaps I still couldn’t beat him,” said Impett. “So I’m pleased to finally do it.”

At 1-1 in the best-of-three final against Dunkley, 20, Impett led by 23 points with three reds left.

Dunkley won his second tournament of the 20-week series on the pink.

“In the third frame he ran away a bit towards the end and started to dominate like he always does,” admitted Impett.

Hedge End 12-year-old Jordan Winbourne beat England under-14 international Shane Castle 3-1 but lost by the same score to Dunkley in the last four.

Series half-centuries: 32.

Week five breaks: Dan Hildyard 93, Ollie Tydeman 60 and 57, Dunkley 61, 59 and 51, Shane Castle 54 and 52.

  Top six: Dunkley (Bursledon) 34 pts, Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) 32, Billy Castle (Marchwood) 26, Tydeman (C/Ford) 23, Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) 18, Shane Castle (Marchwood) 18.

A day after his 20th birthday, Arron McIntyre made a first appearance in a Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up final for 16 months.

But his celebrations were cut short after leading 1-0 and 2-1 against Dan Hildyard who is on track for a fifth title.

Hildyard, 17, who admitted he did not play well, won 3-2 on the blue to take the lead in Series 14. Earlier he posted a 78 in a 3-0 first-round victory over Craig Wilson.

Alex Dunkley (68 and 50) defeated Billy Castle (53) 3-1 in the first round. Castle dropped to second despite a 3-0 win in the Plate final against Jordan Winbourne who had won the consolation competition in the two previous weeks.

Ten-year-old Shane Castle potted a 55 in a 3-2 win against Ollie Tydeman and saw off Dunkley, 20, 3-1 before a 3-1 semi-final exit to Hildyard.

Top six: Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) 24 pts, Billy Castle (Marchwood) 21, Ollie Tydeman (C/Ford) 15, Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) 14, Shane Castle (Marchwood) 14, Adam Bobat (Fareham) 13.

in previous weeks

Fair Oak teenager Dan Hildyard admitted it felt “pretty good” after clinching a fourth Chandler’s Ford Under-21 Roll-Up title.

The 17-year-old, who had virtually wrapped up the £1,000 series with two weeks to spare, would have been forgiven for coasting through the final tournament.

But like any true champion he blocked out the race for second place and concentrated on doing what he does best – winning snooker matches.

In fact, Hildyard was “disappointed” to drop a first frame of the day as he swept past Billy Castle 3-1 to notch up a sixth final victory of the 20-week series.

“I just played my normal game to get even more points in front,” said the former Wyvern schoolboy.

“I’d rather not determine who comes second. I just want to win.

“I missed a couple at the start for the Premier Tour. I lost a few silly games that I shouldn’t have but overall I’m pretty happy with what I’ve done.”

Hildyard eased past Jack Hyom 4-0, and Ollie Tydeman 3-0 in the last four.

Tydeman, 18, hung onto second spot by one point as third-placed Castle, 16, lost in the final.

A 3-1 semi-final defeat by Castle denied five-time champion Alex Dunkley a top-three spot.

In the early rounds, Dunkley, 20, posted breaks of 59, 56 and 58. Castle added an 84 against cousin Shane.

Lee Roling overcame Hyom, 18, 2-0 in the Plate final to record a second straight success in the consolation competition.

Tydeman’s massive 137 remained the top break of the series.

Hildyard revealed he is set to leave Churchills B to play for Sarisbury A in the Southampton Premier Division.

He practises for at least an hour-and-a-half a day, seven days a week.

In 2006/07 he finished 26th on the EASB Premier Junior Tour but slipped to 33rd last season after illness ruined two of the six events.

“I’d rather play much better players all the time,” he said. “It makes you play better.” 

With many of the Roll-Up’s top players on the EASB Premier and Regional Tours, Hildyard reckons the new series, which starts at Chandler’s Ford SC today at 1pm, will be wide open.

Although he added: “I’m going to keep trying until I’m too old.”

Series 13, final positions: Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) £200, Ollie Tydeman (C/Ford) £150, Billy Castle (Marchwood) £100, Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) £90, Shane Castle (Marchwood) £80, Jordan Sainsbury (C/Ford) £70, Kevin Impett (Totton) £55, Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) £47.5, Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak) £47.5, Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) £40, Jack Hyom (C/Ford) £30, Daniel Woods (Hedge End) £25, Lee Roling (C/Ford) £20, Glenn Shefford (Eastleigh) £10.

previous weeks reports listed below

The Pontin’s under-12 champion stunned EASB Premier Junior Tour players Hildyard and Alex Dunkley to win a second tournament since handicaps were abolished.

After fluking a re-spotted black to seal a 3-0 semi-final win against Hildyard, Castle swept aside Dunkley in a one-sided final.

The Marchwood youngster took the first frame by 58 points, made breaks of 38 and 44 to win the second by 64 and added a 37 to take the third by 72.

Dunkley said: “It’s probably the first time I’ve ever been outclassed in the Roll-Up.”

Castle said: “I was pleased to beat Dan 3-0 and I was pleased to beat Alex 3-0.”

Hildyard, 17, knocked in a 72 against Jordan Winbourne in the quarter-finals.

Series 14 of Hampshire’s richest junior tournament breaks off next Saturday at 1pm. The format is a best-of-five scratch knockout with a best-of-three plate.

For details contact Jim Everett 023 8025 4834.

Top six: Dan Hildyard (124 pts), Ollie Tydeman (104), Billy Castle (101), Alex Dunkley (100), Shane Castle (92), Jordan Sainsbury (71).

ALEX DUNKLEY has piled the pressure on second and third place in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up with a second successive tournament victory.

The five-time champion knocked in breaks of 65, 83 and 52 in the early rounds and beat Ollie Tydeman 3-0 in the final.

Trailing 2-0, Tydeman, 18, missed the blue on 49 and Dunkley, 20, cleared the colours to win on the black.

Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) is virtually assured of a fourth title with two weeks left. The 17-year-old scored a 55 in a 3-0 first-round victory over Glenn Shefford.

Arron McIntyre made a 55 against Jordan Sainsbury, Shane Castle scored a 55 against Lee Roling and Billy Castle ran in a 59 in a 3-2 semi-final defeat by Tydeman.

Jason Hildyard cleaned up in the Plate, beating Kevin Impett 2-0 in the final.

Top six: Dan Hildyard (118 pts), Billy Castle (101), Ollie Tydeman (100), Alex Dunkley (94), Shane Castle (82), Jordan Sainsbury (71).

in previous weeks

ALEX Dunkley picked up a cue for the first time in two weeks and dropped just one frame to win the week-17 Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

“I wanted to re-charge my batteries,” said the 20-year-old from Bursledon. “It’s probably the longest I’ve gone without playing since I started eight years ago.”

The five-time champion made a 63 against Glenn Shefford and an 88 to wrap up a 3-1 semi-final win against Shane Castle after needing a snooker at 1-1.

Dunkley eased to a 3-0 final victory against Billy Castle.

Castle (Marchwood) knocked in a 65 in a 3-1 first-round clash against Jack Hyom. Also in the early stages, 18-year-old left-hander Ollie Tydeman made a 50 against Daniel Woods (Hedge End) and a 58 against Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak).

Sixth-placed Jordan Sainsbury beat Kevin Impett 2-0 in the Plate final.

Shane Castle, ten, welcomed 12-year-old David Barron (Hedge End) to the Roll-Up with breaks of 86 and 64 in a 3-0 first-round win.

  Top six: Dan Hildyard (114 pts), Billy Castle (97), Ollie Tydeman (94), Alex Dunkley (84), Shane Castle (78), Jordan Sainsbury (69).

You know how it is, you wait 70 weeks for a tournament win and then two come along together.

Ollie Tydeman described it as “bizarre” after a 3-1 win over Billy Castle earned the 18-year-old a second final victory on the spin in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

In the week-15 quarter-finals, Tydeman met Dan Hildyard who he beat 2-0 last week to claim a first final win since January 6, 2007.

Hildyard clawed back a 20-point deficit in the fourth frame but jawed a match-ball black.

Tydeman said: “I went 2-0 down without getting a look-in. I won the third easily and was dead and buried in the fourth. I rode my luck and scraped the decider.”

Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak) eased past Kevin Impett (Totton) to clinch the Plate final 3-0.

The top four in the rankings, with five to play, all posted half-centuries: Hildyard (53) 102 pts, Tydeman (50) 82 pts, Castle (51) 81 pts and Dunkley (52) 74 pts.

A relieved Ollie Tydeman admitted “it took a while” to end a 70-tournament jinx in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

Appearing in an eighth final since his last victory on January 6, 2007, the apprentice plumber pulled the plug on rankings leader Dan Hildyard’s hopes of a fifth success of the 20-week series.

In fact, Hildyard scored no points in the first frame and just 17 in the second.

After the 2-0 win, Tydeman admitted: “I didn’t leave him a lot.”

And the 18-year-old left-hander, who has a top competitive break of 137, added: “Out of the 70 weeks it was probably the one I least expected to win. I couldn’t get going at all today.

“I’ve been experimenting; some things have worked and some things haven’t. I’m getting there slowly; I’m still not where I want to be.

“It’s a bit of a confidence booster so it’s a step in the right direction.”

Tydeman is determined to gain promotion to the EASB Premier Junior Tour from the Regional Junior Tour South next season.

Glenn Shefford, 16, celebrated finishing his GCSEs at King Edward VI School with his highest break of 43 in a 3-1 defeat by Tydeman, who replied with a 51.

In the semi-finals, Hildyard, 17, from Fair Oak, posted a 57 in the deciding frame after Shane Castle, ten, twice levelled with breaks of 37, 30 and 30.

Lee Roling made a 57 from a fluked red to take the first frame of a 3-2 defeat by Castle (Marchwood). The 17-year-old beat Shefford 2-1 in the week-14 Plate final.

in previous weeks

THREE tournament wins on the spin has taken Alex Dunkley up to third place in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

But the five-time champion insists he needs to dominate the last seven weeks of the series if he is to have any chance of catching current leader Dan Hildyard.

In fact, Dunkley’s 3-0 victory in the week-13 final against second-placed Billy Castle means he has won each of the last five Roll-Up tournaments he has competed in. 

Dunkley, 20, said: “I just want to win every one I play in now and start to dominate it again, but Dan’s going to be hard to catch.”

Hildyard (Fair Oak) leads by 21 points. Two points are awarded for each match won in the main competition and one point for each Plate match.

In the first round against Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury), Dunkley missed a red into the middle on 92.

“I did all the hard work then twitched,” he said.

He added runs of 54 and 61 in a 3-1 semi-final victory over seventh-placed Jordan Sainsbury, 15, and a 57 in the final.

Jordan Winbourne, 12, from Hedge End posted a new competitive high break of 57 in a 3-0 first-round win against Pontin’s Under-12 champion Shane Castle.

Billy Castle (Marchwood) fought back from 38 behind with two reds left to beat Hildyard 3-2 in the last eight.

Daniel Woods (Hedge End) saw off Lee Roling (C/Ford) 2-1 in the Plate final.

ALEX DUNKLEY ended six weeks without a century break in the semi-finals of this week’s Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

The 20-year-old fired in a 100 in the second frame of a 3-1 win against left-hander John Smith, from Otterbourne.

It was his 37th tournament ton and a first since a 138 total clearance on the EASB Premier Junior Tour in Stockport on April 26.

Dunkley added 57 and 60 in a 2-1 final victory over Ollie Tydeman to record a fourth win of the 20-week series.

This was Tydeman’s seventh defeat in a final since his last win 68 tournaments ago on January 6, 2007.

The 18-year-old knocked in a 57 and won three straight frames in the second semi from 1-0 down to beat rankings leader Dan Hildyard.

Dunkley (Bursledon) and Tydeman (C/Ford) are joint third behind Billy Castle (Marchwood).

Jason Hildyard lost the first frame in the first round on the black against older brother Dan, 17, but levelled with a 50. The 15-year-old took the next but lost 3-2.

Shane Castle, ten, scored 65 in a 3-0 win against Jordan Winbourne. Kevin Impett (Totton) added a 53 in a 2-0 Plate win against Jason Hildyard.

Plate specialist Jordan Sainsbury beat Impett 2-0 to notch up a fourth win in 12 weeks.

BURSLEDON’S Alex Dunkley beat rankings leader Dan Hildyard 3-2 on the final black to notch up a third Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up tournament win of the 20-week series.

A 71 break gave five-time champion Dunkley the first frame but Hildyard levelled with a 37 clearance and took the next.

Dunkley made a 59 to force a decider and cleared the last three colours after Hildyard, from Fair Oak, jawed a match-ball blue.

It is two wins apiece as Jack Hyom and Jordan Sainsbury clashed in the week-11 Plate final for the fourth time this season. Hyom, 18, won 3-2.

In the first round, Dunkley, who climbed to joint fifth, scored a 50, Hildyard fired in an 81 and third-placed Ollie Tydeman waded in with a 65.

Dan Hildyard is top of the Ranking list in the under 21's

MEDIA student JACK HYOM has joined the half-century club, ten days after his 18th birthday.

Hyom posted a 53 in the deciding frame of a 2-1 Plate final victory against Jordan Sainsbury in week ten of the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

Dan Hildyard extended his lead over Billy Castle to 15 points at the halfway point with a 2-0 win against left-hander John Smith in the final.  

“I didn’t play that well but just did enough to win it,” said the 17-year-old, who scored a 54 in the second frame to record a fourth tournament win of the series.

Arron McIntyre, who made a 50 in the first round, added a 54 to take a 2-1 quarter-final lead against Shane Castle. The ten-year-old levelled with an 86 clearance – but lost the decider.

Ollie Tydeman, 18, fired in a 50 against Glenn Shefford.

Jason Hildyard, 15, beat Sainsbury 3-0 to progress through to the second round for the first time in five weeks. 

OLLIE TYDEMAN has chalked up a monster 137 total clearance.

The 18-year-old recorded his first tournament ton in the second frame of a 3-0 first-round victory over Totton’s Craig Wilson in this week’s Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

The break is the second highest in the near five-year history of the competition.

Mike Finn holds the record with 140. The former England international missed the final black for a maximum on December 9, 2006 - against Tydeman.

“I don’t know where it came from,” admitted the stunned left-hander.

“It really hit me when I was on about 80. There were a few easy red/pinks that you didn’t have to do a lot with. I thought ‘just roll these in and concentrate on that’.

“I had a half-ball black for the ton and once I got that in all the pressure just went. The rest was easy.”

Alex Dunkley denied Tydeman a first tournament win for 65 weeks with runs of 57 and 67 in a quick-fire 2-0 final victory.

Totton’s Kevin Impett also posted a new personal best, a 71 in a 3-2 defeat by Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury).

Rankings leader Dan Hildyard increased his lead over Billy Castle (Marchwood) to 11 points despite a 3-2 semi-final defeat by Dunkley.

Castle beat Jack Hyom 2-0 in the Plate final.

McIntyre, 19, scored his first century, 115, and missed the brown for a 137, in a practice match against Scott McGaw (Calmore).

ALEX Dunkley’s first tournament win in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up since December 1 could not prevent series-13 favourite Dan Hildyard from extending his lead.

With second-placed Billy Castle in action at the Pontin’s Spring Festival in North Wales, Hildyard opened up a ten-point gap at the top despite losing 3-2 in the week-eight final.

Dunkley, 20, from Bursledon, won the decider after Hildyard levelled with a 67.

Hildyard made a 50 in a 3-1 last eight win over Daniel Woods (Hedge End) and beat Jordan Sainsbury 3-2 in the semi-finals after leading 2-0.

A break of 79 by Dunkley in a 4-0 win against Jason Hildyard, 15, was followed by 65 and 61 in a 3-0 last four victory over Kevin Impett (Totton).

Winchester’s Tom King, 16, beat Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) 3-2 in the Plate final. 

FAIR OAK potter Dan Hildyard reckons it was “probably the best I’ve played for a while” as he swept to top spot in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

The 17-year-old dropped just one frame to claim a third tournament win of the 20-week series.

A 3-1 quarter-final victory over rankings leader Billy Castle (Marchwood) in the week-seven action took Hildyard two points clear.

Hildyard said: “I knew if I beat him I’d probably go top but if I lost I’d go further behind.”

He eased past Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) 3-0 and knocked in a 57 but missed a century chance on 62.

“There was five or six reds left and I landed dead straight on the black,” he said. “I had it play it with reverse side and chipped the white.

“Beating Alex 3-0 was my best result.”

Hildyard saw off third-placed Shane Castle 3-0 in the final.

Birthday-boy Dunkley, 20, chalked up breaks of 53 and 63 and missed an easy pink on 96 in a 3-0 victory over John Smith (Otterbourne).

Shane, ten, wrapped up a 3-2 win against Jordan Winbourne, 12, with a 55 clearance.

Jordan Sainsbury took a 2-1 first-round lead with a 48 but Ollie Tydeman, 18, levelled and won the decider with a 50.

Sainsbury, 14, added a 45 in a 3-2 Plate final victory against Jack Hyom.

Smith and Tydeman are tied in fourth, Arron McIntyre is sixth, Winbourne seventh, Jason Hildyard eighth, Sainsbury ninth and Kevin Impett tenth.

TWICE-weekly practice sessions with the region’s finest break-builder have inspired Marchwood teenager Billy Castle to new heights in the junior game.

The 15-year-old dropped just one frame to regain the lead in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up with a third tournament win out of six.

Last week Castle gained promotion to the EASB Premier Junior Tour, for the country’s top 48 under-21s, and credits practice-partner Mike Finn with his recent success. 

“He’s been pushing me a lot,” said Castle. “He’s upped his game so much; it’s just great to play him.

“Knowing that I’m on the Junior Tour next year gave me a boost.”

Castle scored a 68 in a 3-0 victory against left-hander John Smith in the last eight and added a 74 clearance in a 3-0 win against ten-year-old cousin Shane in the semis.

A similar score-line in the final denied Ollie Tydeman, 18, a first tournament win for 62 weeks.

Tydeman (C/Ford) reached a third final running after trailing 2-0 to Jordan Winbourne, 12.

Jordan Sainsbury climbed to tenth with a 2-0 Plate final victory over Jack Hyom.

James Hoskins, 19, a member of Southampton Premier double-winning side Totton Rec, made his Roll-Up debut but went out 3-2 to Shane Castle in the first round.

in earlier weeks

A FOURTH Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up title is there for the taking believes Fair Oak teenager Dan Hildyard.

The 17-year-old opened up a four-point lead over Billy Castle, who was on duty in Keynsham, by denying Ollie Tydeman a first tournament win for 61 weeks.

Tydeman, 18, took the first frame in the final and, after losing the next two, forced a decider despite Hildyard firing in a 57.

Hildyard, who misses today’s competition due to the final event of the EASB Premier Junior Tour in Stockport, won 3-2.

With 15 of the 20 weeks left to play, Hildyard said: “I’ll be here for the rest of them. I reckon I can win it.”

Five-time champion Alex Dunkley made a 53 in a 3-0 first-round win against Jordan Winbourne but was on the receiving end of breaks of 61 and 60 in a 3-2 defeat by Tydeman.

Jordan Sainsbury (C/Ford) edged out Daniel Woods (Hedge End) 3-2 in the Plate final.

Three-time champion Dan Hildyard dropped just two frames as he claimed a first Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up tournament win of the 20-week series.

And with rankings leader Billy Castle in Bristol today competing on the EASB Regional Junior Tour, Hildyard can take top spot.

The 17-year-old from Fair Oak, who will be in Stockport for the EASB Premier Junior Tour during next week’s competition, knocked in breaks of 75, 50, 56 and 69, and eased past Ollie Tydeman 2-0 in the week-four final.  

Castle made a shock 3-2 quarter-final exit to Jason Hildyard despite scoring his highest break.

Hildyard, 15, led 2-1 but Castle levelled with a 92 only to lose the decider on the pink.

Reaching a first semi-final for 15 weeks, Hildyard, leading 2-1 against Tydeman, made a 48 in the fourth but lost 3-2.

Tydeman, 18, from C/Ford, climbed to ninth after a first final appearance for 22 weeks.

Ten-year-old Shane Castle remained third with a 2-0 Plate final victory over Kevin Impett (Totton).  

Billy Castle’s 16-match unbeaten run in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up was ended in the week-three final by his ten-year-old cousin Shane.

Winning a first tournament since handicaps were abolished nearly six months ago, the Marchwood youngster admitted he was “pleased” with the 3-1 victory.

“I went 1-0 down but fought back to win it like at Pontin’s,” said Shane, who climbed to third place.

In February, Shane was 1-0 down in the Pontin’s, Prestatyn, national under-12 final to Ieuan Davies and won 2-1.

“There’s no point getting nervous or you will lose,” he added.

Shane beat Jack Hyom 3-1 in the semi-finals with a 52.

Coach Dave Mumford was “delighted” and believes the pre-shot routine they have been working on over the past month is paying dividends.

“When he does his pre-shot routine he becomes more balanced,” said Mumford.

“His approach is more consistent, it’s more measured and what he’s doing is attempting to cut out the errors that are made through rushing and lack of care.”  

Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) made a 74 in a 3-1 win against younger brother Jason but lost in the last four to Billy, who doubled the pink to clinch a 3-2 victory.

Jason, 15, missed an easy black on 54 with three reds left in a 3-1 Plate final win against Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End).

Previous news

BILLY CASTLE bounced back from four days to forget to win the final Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up tournament of series 12.

The Marchwood teenager led England international George Marter 2-0 in the last 16 of the EASB national under-16 championship in Leeds, but lost 3-2.

The following day he failed to progress through the group stages at the Salisbury Cuestars Under-21 Premier series and on the Monday he lost 2-0 to Mitch Wade in a Southampton Premier match.

After a 2-0 defeat by cousin Shane, ten, in the quarter-finals of the Winchester singles on Tuesday, Castle packed his cue away for three days

“I needed a break,” admitted the 15-year-old. 

Castle, who finished runner-up to Lee Ashbolt in the Roll-Up, beat the champion 3-0 in the second round. He knocked in a 69 in a 3-1 last-eight victory against John Smith (Otterbourne) and eased past Shane 3-0 in the semis.

Castle clinched a third tournament win of the series, beating third-placed Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) 2-1 in the final.

Daniel Woods, 17, beat Peter Maraziotis, 19, 3-2 in the battle for fourth.

Jason Hildyard, 15, won the Plate final 2-1 against Jack Hyom to hold on to seventh.

Ollie Tydeman knocked in a 52 against Glenn Shefford in the first round. Dan Hildyard added a 74 against Jordan Sainsbury.

Series-13 of the South’s premier junior competition begins at 2pm today at Chandler’s Ford SC and reverts back to its normal 1pm start time next week.

The format is a best-of-five scratch knockout with a best-of-three Plate. The top 15 ranked players after 20 weeks share £1,000.

Contact Jim Everett (02380 254834) for details.

Final positions: Lee Ashbolt (Shirley) £200, Billy Castle (Marchwood) £150, Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) £100, Daniel Woods (Hedge End) £90, Peter Maraziotis (West End) £75, Ollie Tydeman (C/Ford) £75, Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak) £55, Shane Castle (Marchwood) £47, Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) £47, Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) £40, Lee Roling (C/Ford) £32, Kevin Impett (Totton) £32, Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) £18, John Smith (Otterbourne) £18, Jordan Sainsbury (C/Ford) £18.

Listed Players

THE tournament will miss me. Champion LEE ASHBOLT'S parting words as he bowed out of the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

A record points total, a record 15 finals and a record ten tournament wins has seen the outspoken 21-year-old from Shirley achieve his dream of a first title.

“I said I was going to win it,” he smiled.

“I’ve worked really hard for it. When I set myself out to do something I always try my absolute best to accomplish it.”

Ashbolt, who works at the HSBC and plays number one for Beaulieu & East Boldre in the Southampton Premier Division, joined the competition in January, 2006, and won three of the next four finals.

He lost out on a first title in the final week of series nine but, with a single-minded determination to succeed, committed himself to being crowned champion before reaching the age limit.

“I didn’t feel as if I was prepared properly then,” Ashbolt explained.

“This 20 weeks my mind was focused on one thing. I went to the gym three times a week and practised about five times a week.

“I’ve loved competing against everyone. I’d like to have defended it.

“I’m going to miss the tournament because I am the most competitive person in the world. It’s a shame, but everything comes to an end. The tournament will miss me.”

BARRING a catastrophic loss of form and a massive turnout in the final two weeks, Lee Ashbolt has clinched a first Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up title.

The 21-year-old eased past former Castle Club teammate Peter Maraziotis to chalk up a tenth tournament win of the 20-week series.

Maraziotis, 19, making a first appearance in a final since August, went in off the final black in the first frame and Ashbolt wrapped up a 2-0 victory with a 47.

Ashbolt (Shirley), who fired in a 66 to lead Pontin’s under-12 champion Shane Castle 2-0 in the quarter-finals, had to claw back a 58-point deficit with five reds left to win a fifth-frame decider on the black with a 48 clearance.

Daniel Woods (Hedge End) knocked in his highest break of 63, minutes after texting his parents for a lift home because he thought he was about to lose a Plate match against Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak).

The 17-year-old won 2-1 and beat Kevin Impett 3-1 in the final.

Ollie Tydeman matched his highest break of 84 in a first-round 3-0 victory over left-hander John Smith.

in previous weeks

Three-time champion DAN HILDYARD is determined to give runaway rankings leader Lee Ashbolt a tough run-in to a first Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up title.

Hildyard (Fair Oak) beat Ashbolt (Shirley) 2-1 in this week’s final to record a fourth tournament win of series-12.

“I beat him the week before Prestatyn as well,” he said.

“That’s twice now. I’m getting my own back. I should have beaten him 2-0 because I had a chance in the second frame. I just didn’t take my chance and he did.”

The 17-year-old stalled on 95 with two reds left in the third frame of a 3-0 first-round victory over Glenn Shefford.

“I played a cutback. It was going straight in the middle of the pocket and ended up hitting the right jaw. Not much you can do about that.”

Hildyard is on duty today in Leeds on the EASB Premier Junior Tour where he is ranked 27th.

Ashbolt, 21, reached a 13th final of the series after trailing 2-1 to left-hander John Smith (Otterbourne) in the last-four.

Week-17 breaks: Dan Hildyard 95 and 53, Lee Ashbolt 89, 55 and 52, Billy Castle 56, Peter Maraziotis 57, Ollie Tydeman 63.

LEE ASHBOLT intends to leave his mark on his last Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up series by beating Alex Dunkley’s record of five straight tournament wins.

Ashbolt shrugged off the threat of Birmingham century-breaker John Pritchett in the last-four and beat second-placed Billy Castle 2-0 in the final.

With back-to-back wins under his belt, the 21-year-old from Shirley needs to remain undefeated in the last four competitions to take the record.

Left-hander Pritchett, 16, contributed a 70 against Ollie Tydeman and added 69 and 50 against Jordan Winbourne before a 3-1 semi-final exit.

Ashbolt said: “There was an added incentive today.

“Everyone said that this guy’s going to come here and walk the tournament. He’s a very good player but I just kept at it.

“My aim now is to get the record six wins in a row.”

Castle made a 52 in a 3-2 semis victory over Arron McIntyre.

Ashbolt chalked up a 65 in the second frame of a 3-0 quarter-final win against Jason Hildyard and added a 58 and a 57 clearance in the third.

Dan Hildyard, 17, who knocked in 52 in a 3-0 first-round defeat by Ashbolt, beat Shane Castle 3-0 in the Plate final.

earlier news

CHAMPION-elect LEE ASHBOLT insisted he has no mates while he is playing after notching up an eighth Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up tournament win of the series.

The 21-year-old beat guest player and good friend Scott McGaw 3-2 in the final.

“It's not easy playing your mate but I don't think like that when I play snooker,” he said, “I don't see anyone as a mate.”

Second-placed Billy Castle scored a 54 in the first round and cousin Shane added a 56 in the semis. Ashbolt made an 80 in the last-eight.

Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) beat Daniel Woods (Hedge End) 3-0 to win a third Plate final in four weeks.

THREE-time champion Dan Hildyard insists that the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up title-race is over despite beating favourite Lee Ashbolt in the week-14 final.

For the second week running, Ashbolt (Shirley) lost a deciding frame as Hildyard (Fair Oak) fluked the yellow, landed perfectly on the green and cleared to the black to clinch a third tournament win of the series.

The 17-year-old edged up to third behind Billy Castle (Marchwood).

“It’s nice to have a bit of luck once in a while,” he laughed.

“It doesn’t really matter to him, because basically he’s won it already.”

Hildyard fired in breaks of 60, 53 and 63 against Glenn Shefford, 15, and Castle.

He heads to Lincoln today for the EASB Premier Junior Tour event-four and next Friday travels to North Wales for the national week-long ‘Search for a Star’ junior festival at Pontin’s, Prestatyn.

“I’m not playing exactly how I’d want to be right now,” Hildyard added. “There’s still the odd shot where I miss the easy balls.”

A tenth appearance in a final extended Ashbolt’s lead to 19 points. The 21-year-old has six competitions left to wrap up a first, and last, title.

He made breaks of 52, 55 and missed the blue on 86 in the early rounds and beat Ollie Tydeman 3-2 in the semis.

Castle (56) and Tydeman (58) completed the half-century count.

Jordan Winbourne, 11, beat Shane Castle, nine, 3-1 with runs of 31 and 32.

It was just the tonic that Billy Castle and Lee Ashbolt needed after being laid up with a virus all week.

The top two in the 20-week Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up clashed in a final for the fourth time this series, but it was second-placed Castle who recovered quicker to give the rankings leader a taste of his own medicine.

The Marchwood 15-year-old, who had lost the three previous encounters, clinched a second tournament win in 13 weeks despite missing a frame-ball pink with one red left in the decider.

But Ashbolt (Shirley) could not muster the strength for one of his famous comebacks.

Castle was taken ill after returning from a free trip to the Wembley Masters, which was confirmed by a phone call to his home from world No 13 and beaten semi-finalist Stephen Lee. 

“I think it was seeing the pros keep making centuries,” he laughed.

Ashbolt, 21, said: “I’ve been in bed all week so I was quite surprised to get to the final.

 “I had my chances, just didn’t take them. Can’t take them every time can I?”

Castle beat Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) 3-1 in the semis following a walkover against Alex Dunkley in the last-eight.

Ashbolt (68) beat Shane Castle 3-2 and added 53 in a 3-0 semi-final victory over Ollie Tydeman.

Dan Hildyard (77) lost 3-2 to Tydeman, 18, in the first round and suffered a shock 2-1 defeat by Daniel Woods (Hedge End) in the Plate final.

DAN HILDYARD proved it is not size that counts but how you use it in this week’s Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

The three-time champion beat Jordan Winbourne 2-0 to climb to third with eight weeks to play.

Tip problems forced Hildyard to revert to his old cue.

“My cue’s two or three inches longer than the one I was using,” he explained.

Hildyard, who is unbeaten in the Southampton Premier this season with Churchills’ B, survived a scare against 11-year-old Winbourne to clinch a second tournament win of the series.

Trailing 1-0, the Botley youngster missed a thin cut on the final black in the second.

Ollie Tydeman, 18, who has been working on his cue-action, ended rankings leader Lee Ashbolt’s 17-match unbeaten run.

Ashbolt took the third frame with a 64 but lost 3-1 despite gaining the three snookers required in the fourth.

Second-placed Billy Castle (68) beat Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) 3-0 but lost 3-1 to an inspired Lee Roling in the quarters.

Winbourne (34, 32, 38 and 34) reached a first final since handicaps were abolished.

McIntyre (64) beat Jason Hildyard 3-2 in the Plate final.

TITLE-favourite LEE ASHBOLT believes that drinking plenty of water is the key to clinching a first Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

For the third time this season, Ashbolt, 21, beat second-placed Billy Castle in a final - and notched up a fourth straight tournament win.

In the decider, Castle, 15, was leading by seven points on the colours but, attempting a thin safety, missed the yellow. Asked to play again, he went in off and left an easy starter for Ashbolt to clear to the pink for a 2-1 victory.

Ashbolt wrapped up a trademark fifth-frame decider against three-time champion Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) in the last-eight with a 76 and added a 50 in a 3-1 semi-final win against Daniel Woods (Hedge End).

Ashbolt says that drinking a glass of water each match keeps him alert during the crucial deciding frames.

“I don’t know what’s in the water,” he laughed. “It’s a lucky omen which seemed to give me the edge the last four weeks.

“Something seems to click every time I get to the deciding frame. My mind goes into a different level of focus and I can produce the goods, which is a nice gift to have.”

Ashbolt’s 16-match unbeaten run, and a seventh tournament win in 11 weeks, extended his lead to 19 points.

Hildyard, 17, knocked in a 50 in a 3-1 win over EASB Premier Junior Tour colleague Alex Dunkley.

Winning a frame for the first time when needing three snookers, Castle (Marchwood) beat Peter Maraziotis (West End) 3-1 to reach a fifth final of the 20-week series.

Jordan Sainsbury, 14, scored a 40 in a 3-0 victory over 11-year-old Jordan Winbourne. Ollie Tydeman needed a snooker to beat Shane Castle 3-2 in the Plate final.

earlier news

TITLE-favourite LEE ASHBOLT grasped the one chance he needed to break the resistance of Billy Castle and chalk up a fifth Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up tournament win of the season.

Despite having a 51 drilled past him in the deciding frame, Ashbolt, who was 21 on Christmas Eve, cleared the colours to clinch victory on the black in the week-nine final.

The Shirley cue-man won the first with a 68. Castle, 15, levelled and took the lead in the decider but left Ashbolt with a chance of a thin yellow on the cushion.

Ashbolt said: “Billy played really well.

“I felt confident even when I was behind. I’ve got that winning feeling and when I get into those positions in a final, I feel as if I’m going to win.

“All I wanted was one chance at the end, and I got it and grasped it with both hands.”

Dan Hildyard (Fair Oak) battled back from 2-0 down to force a fifth-frame decider but lost to Ashbolt on the black.

In the semis, Daniel Woods (Hedge End) took the first frame but Ashbolt reached his sixth final of the 20-week series with a 3-1 win.

Castle (Marchwood) beat Alex Dunkley for the third time in four meetings.

Following a 3-0 victory over Ollie Tydeman, 18, Castle demolished Dunkley, 19, 3-0 with breaks of 51, 37 and 47.

Jason Hildyard, 15, signalled a return to form with wins over Arron McIntyre and Peter Maraziotis (West End) before losing 3-1 to Castle in the semis.

Totton’s Craig Wilson, 12, beat Josh Baird 3-0 to record a first-round victory for the first time in 18 tournaments.

earlier news

LEE ASHBOLT celebrated his 21st birthday on Christmas Eve top of the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up rankings.

But the series-12 favourite admitted he “was shaking like a leaf” during a deciding-frame 65 break that ended the hopes of Southampton singles champion Alex Dunkley in the week-eight final.

Ashbolt, from Shirley, edged out Daniel Woods (Hedge End) 3-2 in a tight first-round match but eased past Ollie Tydeman (Chandler’s Ford) 3-1 and Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) 3-0. 

“I always tend to do that,” he said. “If I struggle in the first round and get through, I seem to be able to go on and get to the final.

“I wasn’t really bothered about what [Alex] was doing; I was just concentrating on what I was doing.”

And Ashbolt was not concerned when Dunkley took the opening frame.

“It’s not the way I work,” he explained. “I always keep going until the final ball is potted. I’ve always got that inner belief that I’m going to still come back and win. And I did it today when I needed it most.

“I was so nervous in that deciding frame; I was shaking like a leaf.

“It’s a big confidence booster for the weeks to come. It’s the first time I’ve beaten Alex for quite a while.”

LEE ASHBOLT extended his lead in the Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up with a third tournament win out of six.

Playing in his last 20-week series before he turns 21 in December, Ashbolt admitted he was drained after grinding out a 2-1 final victory over former champion Billy Castle.

Ashbolt (Shirley) knocked in a 70 in the first round and eased past Craig Wilson (Totton), Glenn Shefford (Eastleigh) and Peter Maraziotis (West End) all 3-0.

Castle, 15, led by 49 points in the first frame of the final but won it only on the pink. Ashbolt scraped through the second and the decider turned on a snooker which yielded two free balls.

“I was about 14 behind,” said Ashbolt. “But when I got that snooker I was in control of the frame.

“I wasn’t going to throw that away.

“It was pretty nail-biting at the end. I feel drained but delighted to get over the winning line.”

Maraziotis, 19, recorded his first half-century of the series, a 52, in a 3-0 first-round victory over John Smith, who made runs of 34 and 32 in a 3-0 Plate final win against 11-year-old Jordan Winbourne.

And after 31 straight defeats, 12-year-old Wilson matched his highest break of 20 to beat Josh Baird, 13, 2-1 in the Plate.

LEE ASHBOLT, of Shirley, has sacrificed his Friday nights out in a bid to clinch a first Chandler’s Ford SC £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up title.

Ashbolt, who turns 21 in December, eased past Lee Roling 3-0 in this week’s final but said that the key result was the semi-final clash with Dan Hildyard.

“That was such a big game for me,” he said. “If I’d have lost that, my lead would’ve been broken.

“It’s nice to be looking down on people and not up.”

Ashbolt scored a 61 in a 3-1 victory that ultimately opened up an eight-point gap at the top after week-five of 20.

“I’m not going out on Friday nights, staying in and practising instead of going out,” he said.

“I don’t want to be getting drunk on Friday nights and coming here on a Saturday. I’ve got my priorities right.

“I’m so determined every week to get as many points as I can so I don’t let it slip.”

Daniel Woods fought back from 2-0 down to beat Arron McIntyre 3-2.

But the 17-year-old was beaten 3-1 by an inspired Glenn Shefford, who knocked in a 33 in the final frame.

Jordan Sainsbury climbed to 12th after a 3-0 Plate final win against Totton’s Kevin Impett.

previous news

TWO days after changing his stance, Fair Oak teenager Dan Hildyard improved his standing among the region’s top under-21s with victory over Alex Dunkley in the £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up.

And on a day when six different players contributed a total of nine half-centuries at Chandler ’s Ford SC , EASB Premier Junior Tour player Hildyard won all four matches without breaking the 50 barrier.

Southampton singles champion Dunkley took the first frame in the week-four final with a quick-fire 53 and led in the second.

Hildyard said: “I thought ‘this is going to be a quick match’.”

But the 17-year-old fought back to win 2-1.

“It’s the first time I’ve beaten Alex for quite a while,” he added

Hildyard, who plays for Southampton Premier outfit Churchills’ B, ground out a 3-2 semis victory against West End ’s Peter Maraziotis.

The youngster first picked up a cue six years ago but a midweek discussion with coach Ken Jones prompted major surgery to his stance.

LEE ASHBOLT insists he has to win this £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up series.

Fuelled by a single-minded determination to succeed and some clinical break-building, the 20-year-old from Shirley won the week-three final at Chandler’s Ford SC to take over top spot.

After surviving a fifth-frame black-ball decider to overcome Arron McIntyre in the second round, Ashbolt, known as ‘The Lightning’, struck with runs of 75 and 59 against Shane Castle in the quarter-finals.

He added a 63 in the semis against Kevin Impett (Totton) and saw off Ollie Tydeman, 17, 2-1 in the final.

With his 21st birthday looming in December, Ashbolt, one of the region’s hardest match players, is desperate to win his final Roll-up.

“I need to keep winning because this is the one,” he said.

“I don’t think anybody wants to win more than I do.

“I hate losing. I think I hate losing more than anyone else in the world.

“I usually grind results out, but today I was scoring heavily, once in the balls.”

Ashbolt plays number one for Southampton Premier side Beaulieu and East Boldre.

Billy Castle remained in second after matching his highest break in the Plate.

The 15-year-old from Marchwood led Peter Maraziotis (West End) 2-0 in the first round, but then lost three straight frames.

Castle bounced back in the Plate with 60 and 77 before dispatching Daniel Woods 2-1 in the final.

Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) scored 36, 46, 30 and 31 in a first-round victory over Lee Roling, 16. The 11-year-old trailed 2-0 but took the next three.

in earlier weeks

THREE of the region’s master cue-men were licking their wounds this week after a mauling by Marchwood teenager Billy Castle (pictured above).

The 15-year-old defied the odds to beat Lee Ashbolt, Alex Dunkley and Dan Hildyard off scratch and win the Chandler’s Ford SC £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up week-two competition.

Dunkley, who plays number two for Southampton Premier side Sarisbury Social, chalked up two centuries – only the second time this has been achieved in the competition’s four-year history.

And Churchills’ B number two Hildyard, 16, nearly made it three.

But Castle out-potted the two EASB Premier Junior Tour players.

He eased past Jordan Sainsbury and Glenn Shefford, both 3-0, before seeing off Beaulieu number one Ashbolt 3-1.

Dunkley, 19, rattled in 103 in a 3-0 quarter-final victory over Lee Roling and took a 1-0 semi-final lead with 114.

But Castle pulled one back, took the next with a 52 and ran out a 3-1 winner.

“I thought ‘keep him safe and when I get my chance I’ve got to take it’,” said Castle. “But he had a great break.”

Hildyard fired in a 60 and led 2-1 but Castle levelled with a 48 clearance and won the final 3-2 to join Dunkley at the top of the leader board.

 “I’ve changed my cue action to three feathers and a pause. I’ve been working hard at it all week.”

Hildyard (Fair Oak) missed a black on 97 in the final frame of a 3-0 win over left-hander Will Baird (Eastleigh).

“I had to play the pink up and down the table, and the white finished tight on the top cushion,” he explained.

Jordan Winbourne, 11, scored 31 in a 3-2 first-round victory over Arron McIntyre.

Shane Castle, nine, led Ashb