Billys 14-day Cue-athon

Billy Castle sponsored by Martin Baddams at TJM Groundwork

And the defending champion has cousin Shane in his sights.

Alex Dunkley took a 2-0 lead but Castle fired in a 42 to pull one back and ran out a 3-2 winner.

The 15-year-old has been playing competitions or practising every day for the past two weeks.

Dad Derek Castle said: “You won’t win anything sat at home playing with your Playstation.”

Castle (Marchwood) climbed to third, one point behind Dan Hildyard and 21 adrift of nine-year-old Shane after week 12 of 20.

“I was right up for it,” said Castle. “It was a good game against Alex. When I was 2-0 down I had nothing to lose.”

He put his success down to a four-hour session with Nick Jennings at Churchills’ the previous evening.

In the semis, Castle was behind in each of the last two frames against Arron McIntyre, 18, but won 3-1. He trailed Hildyard, 16, 2-1 in the last-eight and survived a fifth-frame decider against Kevin Impett in the first round.

Castle will make his EASB Southern Regional Junior Tour debut in Birmingham next month.

Dunkley (Bursledon) beat rankings leader Shane 3-1 and scored 68 in a 3-0 victory over Jordan Winbourne (Botley). In the semis, Daniel Woods (Hedge End) took a 1-0 lead but the 19-year-old replied with breaks of 55, 50 and 85.

Dan Hildyard fired in a 51 and won three black-ball games, including a re-spot, against younger brother Jason.

In the Plate, Shane chalked up a 34 but Lee Roling’s 34 clearance won the frame. Roling, 16, came unstuck in the final, losing 3-0 to Impett (Totton).

Picture: Kevin Legg