Following a morning session which went largely the way of the experienced players, it was the turn of the young guns to hit back this evening. Click below to read exactly what has happened:
Afternoon Session
Youth hits back
Following a morning session which went largely the way of the experienced players, it was the turn of the young guns to hit back this evening.
First over the line was 18 year old Irishman Vincent Muldoon who took his second win of the season against Wexford’s Rodney Goggins. Starting the match in great form, ‘Vinnie’ raced off to a 4-0 lead early on and never really looked back. Goggins to his credit hung in there and took the next two frames to apply some pressure, but Muldoon hung on to earn a tie with Stuart Pettman tomorrow.
Soon to follow was fellow 18 year old Stephen Craigie who recorded a similarly impressive win over Scunthorpe veteran Matthew Couch. This was another really good result for the talented teenager from Tyneside and puts him into the next round to face Mark Davis tomorrow in what will be a real test of his character.
Another youngster making a mark was 17 year old reigning Asian under-21 champion Li Hang who beat last years PIOS winner Kuldesh Johal 5-3. A very good win for one so young, it will be interesting to see if he can follow it up tomorrow when he comes up against Ian Preece.
Third time lucky
Two men winning their first match of the season at their third attempts were David Grace and Aditya Mehta.
Grace wasted little time in securing his place in the next round in beating young Welshman Jamie Jones 5-3 setting up a clash with the experienced Rod Lawler in the second round. Mehta meanwhile beat former World quarter-finalist Patrick Wallace 5-3 after a long drawn out match. He goes on to face David Morris tomorrow.