THERE was no happy home-coming for a University of Southampton student at the women’s European Snooker Championship, writes TIM DUNKLEY.

Weronika Nowicka insisted she was “disappointed”, despite winning two of her six matches and taking a frame off the beaten finalist.

Nowicka lost her first group-stage game – in the event hosted in her home city of Zielona Góra, Poland – 3-1 to compatriot Ewa Pawiñska.

But a 3-0 win against Eva Török (Hungary) and a 3-1 victory over Claudia Weber (Switzerland) put qualifying for the knockout in her sights. However, the 23-year-old was in reflective mood after defeats by Linda Lassaut (France), 3-1, Yana Shut (Belarus), 3-0, and Anastasia Nechaeva (Russia), 3-1. “Emotions are quite different in the European Championship than in other tournaments,” said Nowicka. “For Polish players, this one is the most important tournament of the year. “I have to think a lot now about what went wrong and come back to practise.

“I’m very disappointed with my performance. I won two matches this year and needed three to qualify.”

Nowicka did add that taking a frame off beaten finalist Nechaeva was “very motivating”.

Weekly snooker review in today's Daily Echo