CI juniors fail to live up to Euro Champs form

THE Channel Islands juniors have had a mixed bag of fortune at the World Eight-Ball Pool Championships in Blackpool. The team showed their pedigree when they reached the finals of the European Championships earlier in the year in Bordeaux. But in Blackpool these past few days they have struggled somewhat.

Losses to Wales and Malta went alongside victories over Spain and Northern Ireland. They now need to get two wins out their last tough three games against Australia, England and Scotland to stand a chance of finishing in fourth spot

'As European finalists I was expecting quite a lot but they never really out of first gear,' said Channel Islands team manager Paul Bolton.

'I was expecting them to get into the top four this year but we will have to wait until next year.'

In their first match with Wales, the Channel Islands were slow off the mark as their opponents took the final session 5-0 to win 9-6. They bounced back in fine style against Spain in their next match as they cruised to a 10-5 victory.

James Kirk won all three of his frames as he beat Rikki Hatherley, Matthew Fry and Juan Arasmous. Andy Stentiford also enjoyed a clean sweep.

Next up against Northern Ireland, the Channel Islanders again played very well.

They took the first session 3-2 as Chris Hamon, Jez de la Haye and Ashley Perriam all tasted success. The second session was even better as Stentiford, Hamon, de la Haye and Kirk all won to bring the final score to 10-5.

Their next opponents, Malta, were unbeaten in their first three matches and this was to become four as the Maltese crushed them 11-4. The juniors again experienced defeat in their following match, this time with Ireland.

The final score of 8-7 suggests a tight battle but it was never close as the Irish won at 8-4.

In the seniors, the Channel Islands last two competitors in the men's individual competition were both knocked out in the last 64 stage.

Guernsey's Adam Shorto lost 8-7 the hands of Australia's Pat Broderick and Caesarean Ady Bougourd was taken care of by Sunny Singh of India.