Double title boost for hot-shot Ryan

DOUBLE CHAMPION . . . Ryan Davies

POTTING whizz-kid Ryan Davies has been at it again.

The green baize starlet from Oldham (14) has added yet more silverware to the sideboard at home by winning both the English under-21 and under-16 billiards titles.

Playing at the English Association of Snooker and Billiards (EASB) finals tournament at the South-West Academy venue in Gloucester, Newman college pupil Davies roared through qualifying in the under-21s event before being paired with Hartlepool's Sean McAllister in the final.

Davies won comfortably in the two-hour contest, sealing a 442 points to 352 victory.

In winning the under-21s crown, Ryan emulated his elder brother Aaron, who won the same age group title for four years on the spin.

Predominantly a snooker specialist, Ryan proved once again that's he's equally adept at billiards.

Proud dad Martin said: "Ryan does concentrate much more on his snooker, so much so that he doesn't really practise billiards too often at the Oldham Snooker Academy.

"He tends to just play the six main junior billiards tournaments each year, focusing on them when they come around."

Young Davies, who is coached by Barry Broadbent, stormed to victory in the under-16s billiards final.

Up against Jack Tindall - also from Hartlepool - Davies triumphed 674-201 in another two-hour match which turned out to be much more one-sided.

Davies, who recorded his first recorded maximum 147 break recently, is still very active on the junior snooker scene.

He has qualified to compete on the prestigious Premier Tour again, while August will see the teenager representing England under-16s at the Home Internationals in Leeds.

Ryan's elder brother Aaron (20) continues to focus chiefly on pool. He is currently competing for his country at the Men's World Championships at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool. In the singles event he was knocked out 8-5 by ex-champion Adam Davis, but his England team have stormed through the group stages of their competition.