Black-ball agony for cup final kids

THEY played their hearts out and made their parents and Section organisers proud.

The young potters from Copnor Cuestars B (pictured left) had their remarkable run in the Peter Rook League Cup ended by Division 1 outfit Emsworth.

Ryan Compton, Chloe White, Callum White, Ashley Smith, Rio Smith and Sam Laxton were beaten 9-2 on home tables in the final of the Portsmouth league’s handicapped team competition.

Remarkably, seven of the nine frames they lost went to the final black and the aggregate points score was 611-619 in favour of the visitors.

Copnor’s Cuestars Section organisers Scott Compton, Pascal Richard and Steve Toms were rightly proud of their budding stars.

Toms, who serves with distinction on the Portsmouth District Billiards & Snooker Association committee, declared it a “fitting end to a well-deserved” first season in the adult league for the team that finished runners-up in Division 4.

He said: “With a crowd of more than 20 watching, the nerves got the better of the kids but, saying that, they played their hearts out.

“Their heads and hearts are all in the right place and they love playing the game, especially playing in the same team as each other.”

PICTURE BY STEVE TOMS: Copnor Cuestars B, from left: Ashley Smith, Rio Smith, Chloe White, Callum White, Ryan Compton and Sam Laxton.