AUSTEN Petty has recorded the highest break in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League since the days of Shane Castle.

The 15-year-old from Boyatt Wood compiled a personal best 62, his second half-century, against Charlie Gray in the week-nine action at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

Petty won all three games and took over top spot in the Premier from Dan Sykes, who was competing on the EASB Regional Junior Tour in Gloucester. In the Under-13 Premier, Mickey Joyce, also in action in Gloucester, was replaced at the top by Luke Beebe.

WEEK-NINE GROUP WINNERS U13: Luke Beebe, Bowen Zhu, Billy Naismith, Alex Thomson, James Thomson. Breaks: Jamie Wilson 25 & 20.

U18: Austen Petty, Connor Benzey, Coby Mumford, Sam Warren.

Breaks: Austen Petty 62.

DAN Sykes is close to making a breakthrough on the EASB Regional Junior Tour South.

The 15-year-old, right, from Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, who also competes on the Cuestars Silver Tour, lost three of his four matches in the second leg in Gloucester to Gold Tour players in third-frame deciders on one of the final two colours. Despite having yet to record a win on the circuit in his debut season, Sykes said he “loved” his first taste of professional tables at the South West Snooker Academy and “can’t wait” for the next event in Cambridge in a fortnight.

Meanwhile, the teenager’s clubmates Mickey Joyce, ten, and Olly Clark, 14, collected two wins apiece.

GROUP-STAGE RESULTS Dan Sykes (Chandler’s Ford): 1-2 Sam Storey (Newbury), 1-2 Daniel Knox (Woking), 1-2 James Budd (Fareham), 0-3 Brandon Winstone (Bristol).

Mickey Joyce (Basingstoke): 0-3 Thomas Lancastle (Bristol), 2-1 Joe Taylor (London), 1-2 Olly Clark (Gosport), 3-0 Jordan Partridge (Bristol).

Olly Clark (Gosport): 0-3 Lancastle, 1-2 Taylor, 2-1 Joyce, 3-0 Partridge.