Two weeks after retaining their World Crown in Blackpool, the England Junior Pool Team, accompanied by manager Judi Collins, attended a charity event at Dunstable Snooker Club on Saturday.
Eight-time world champions England brought a strong squa
d, which included current Junior World Champion, Frank Costello, and current Junior World Masters and European Champion Joe O'Connor.
The event raised of £1,200 for the charity Against Breast Cancer, and the day also included an exhibition by former Mens World Champions Carl 'Houdini' Morris and Phil 'Farmer' Harrison.
Bobby Riddaway, the Bedfordshire Pool Association Youth manager, welcomed the team to Dunstable before Paul Cox, County Chairman, took the title of announcer for the day.
Bedfordshire, having the weekend before moved to the top of the region after six matches of the 10-match county series, were represented by most of their young squad.
They were led out by captain Tom Church and vice captain Josh Riddaway, who had just returned from a good display at the World Championships.
The remaining squad members from Bedfordshire were Chris Haywood, David O Brien, Chris Wells, James Molloy, M-Jaye Waller, Callum Tyler, Liam Murnane, Joel Riddaway, George Steptoe and James Rush.
In the best of 13 match James Molloy and Tom Church managed to rack up frames for Bedfordshire, but a combination of missed chances and England's class saw them run out 11-2 winners.
Their was also a singles competition, which was won by England international Jack Smithers, but along the way a number of Bedfordshire players took England scalps.
Following the match, Frank Costello and Joe O'Connor played a doubles match versus Phil Harrison and Carl Morris, which went all the way.
Harrison and Morris then took turns playing volunteers for charity, with a couple of players winning and claiming a free drink at the bar.
Morris then demonstrated his amazing trick shot ability.
With four matches to go in the county season Bedfordshire's youngsters lead the way and are hoping to go one better than last year and qualify for the main national team event in Yarmouth.
