Teenager Tom out to pocket second national title

Rising Shropshire snooker star Tom Maxfield will have a second national title in his sights when he cues up for the England under 16 championship final next month.

The 15-year-old, from Church Eaton, near Newport, was under-13 champion and was also beaten in the final as an under-14.

Both those matches were played against Newcastle's Sam Craigie - and it is that old rival who will again provide the opposition.

The duo will clash at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield in the last weekend in May, having come through a field of 120 players playing in heats across the country.

Tom, who plays out of Minnesota Fats, secured his spot with three convincing victories in the last 16 qualifying stage - winning his best of seven matches 4-2, 4-0 and 4-1.

The teenager also reached the quarter-final stage of the Junior Star of the Future tournament at Pontins in Prestatyn earlier in the month - where 96 players took part.

His progress was halted by a 3-2 defeat in the last eight.

Further silverware could come his way tonight, as he takes on Ian Skelton (Maddocks) in the final of the Telford Snooker League Handicap.

Success in that would follow on from the Ercall Wood School pupil's victory in the Telford under 21 Championship.

Snooker fans can keep tracks of his progress at www.tommaxfield.co.uk.