THIS is for Johnny – and I’m sorry, Luke.
That was Mickey Joyce’s immediate reaction after slamming in a long brown in his trademark carefree style to clinch the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour Championship.
Joyce, who celebrated his tenth birthday 13 days before the last-16 play-off at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, cruised to a 2-0 win against Thomas Holton (Woking) in the final.
Clutching his trophy, the Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club youngster said: “This is for my grandad Johnny because he’s not been very well.”
Joyce also showed consideration for his clubmate Luke Beebe after a bittersweet semi-final victory. He said: “My hardest match was against Luke because I was 1-0 down and I came back and won 2-1. “When I won, I felt really sorry because he’s from my club.” Joyce, who lives in Basingstoke, insists he gets his “very” confident attitude from his dad, Eamon.
The result means the Bronze trophy stays at Chandler’s Ford SC as Austen Petty (Boyatt Wood) was the 2012 champion.
Beebe, 11, from Eastleigh, had the consolation of collecting a first Cuestars trophy after reaching a first semi-final on the junior circuit. SELECTED BRONZE RESULTS Last-16: Kaine Petty (Fordingbridge) 2-1 Joe Kitchen (Gosport), Ben Hatch (Eastleigh) 1-2 Callum McDonald (Salisbury), Luke Beebe (Eastleigh) 2-0 Ally Pollard (Salisbury), Mickey Joyce (Basingstoke) 2-0 Jordan Lee (Woking).
Quarter-finals: Petty 1-2 Conor Flanagan (Swindon), Beebe 2-0 Matt Gillon (Gosport), Joyce 2-1 Edward James (Woking).
Semi-finals: Joyce 2-1 Beebe.
Final: Joyce 2-0 Thomas Holton (Woking).
SELECTED SILVER RESULTS Last-16: Olly Clark (Gosport) 1-2 Nathan Farmer (Gosport), Mike Trigg (East Wellow) 0-2 Connor McLean (East Sussex).
Snooker review in today's Daily Echo
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