Event 2 of the West of England premier snooker tour, the WEBSF Gold Waistcoat was played at Rileys Snooker, Plymouth. Once again the tour attracted the cream of the region’s snooker players to do battle on the green baize. Two new names progressed through to the final, 16 year old Dale Branton, and ex professional Lee Walters. Following a lengthy lay off from the sport, Walters made a triumphant and welcome return by winning the final 2-0. In the final he made breaks of 65 & 87 in a polished display of snooker. Branton was gracious in defeat, recognising Walters quality play and also content with his own day’s work. Reaching the final was enough to take Branton into top spot in the rankings after two events.

Both players booked their place in the final the hard way, coming from a deficit to win 2-1 in the semis. Walters made a 40 break in the first frame, only to see Neil Chiswell make a frame winning 47 in reply. After levelling the match, it was a reversal of the first in the decider. Chiswell opened with a 40 break, only to see Walters seal the frame and match with a 37 break. In the other Semi final, Branton went 1 down, losing on the black to his coach and mentor, Steve Brookshaw. After a close second frame, Branton levelled to set up a decider. With both players in touching distance of a first appearance in a final, a tense affair could have been expected. This proved not to be, as Branton, with the help of a string of low scoring visits to the table, secured a notable scalp and a place in the final.

In The quarter finals Chiswell won 2-0 in a close match against Grant Cole. Following a close first frame, Brookshaw didn't take long in sealing a 2-0 win with the aid of a 53 break against Michael Day. Tour favourite, Sam Baird found it heavy going in his match against Lee Walters, despite going 1 up with a 41 break Walters battled, doing just enough to level the match. Baird kept his nose in front for the majority of the deciding frame until Walters seized on an opportunity, constructing a match winning 57 break. In the last of the quarter finals, it was the battle of the two youngest entrants, Dale Branton versus Mitchell Grinsted. It would have been hard to predict the outcome of this match as encounters between these two are evenly split. Branton started this latest encounter the stronger, winning the first frame 66-39. In the second frame after a cagey opening, Branton got into his stride, sealing the frame and match with a fine 67 break.

In group A, Dale Branton secured top spot with 3 wins. 2nd place went to Mitchell Grinsted. 3^rd place went to Derek Walker and 4^th place to Paul Veitch. Notable breaks: Veitch 40 & 41, Grinsted 45 and Branton 37,42,52 & 77 clearance. Group B, Grant Cole finished in top with Michael Day finished 2^nd, Darren Lock 3^rd and Roger Cole 4^th. Notable breaks: Grant Cole 56 and Lock 46. In-group C, Lee Walters took top spot 2^nd place went to Sam Baird, 3^rd Ben Holley and 4^th Andi Sheehan. Notable breaks; Sheehan 34 & 37, Walters 45 & 45 and Baird with his usual array of breaks 40,45,55,57,60,72, and the days highest, a superb 117. Group D, Neil Chiswell finished in 1^st place, Steve Brookshaw 2^nd, Wayne Branton 3^rd and 4^th Darren Hall. Notable breaks; Brookshaw 47 & 62, Chiswell, 39 & 71, Branton 45,46,47 & 54.

Report by Wayne Branton