IT WAS a day to remember followed by a day to forget for Chandler’s Ford teenager Ryan Hughes.

The 14-year-old recorded his first half-century break in tournament play en route to reaching his first final on the EASB Regional Junior Tour - South West.

However, 24 hours later, he lost the rankings lead on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Silver Tour.

Hughes, who has made a couple of 50s in practice matches, compiled a 52 in the deciding frame of his 2-1 victory over Connor Benzey on a professional standard table at the South West Snooker Academy, Gloucester.

He finished second in his round-robin group, beat home player Lewis Parnham 2-0 in the semis and lost 2-1 on the brown from 1-0 up in the final to Bradley Cowdroy (Bournemouth).

Paying tribute to his opponent, Cowdroy said: “Ryan played great all day, probably the best I’ve ever seen him play, but I think it was just my extra experience that pushed me over the line in the end.

“He’s improving massively, though, and I’m sure it won’t be long before he starts winning these tournaments.”

World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley said: “I’m delighted for Ryan. He’s been threatening to pass this major milestone for some time.

“But to do it on a Star table with its tight pockets is quite remarkable.”

The four other lads from Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club - rankings leader Benzey (Eastleigh), Steven Hughes (C/Ford), Oliver Sykes (C/Ford) and Dan Sykes (C/Ford) - all made group-stage exits.

Benzey, 14, who won the two previous legs in Fareham and Gloucester, is 38 points clear of second-placed Dan Sykes with two of the six legs left, in Bournemouth next month and Swindon in April.

The rankings winner will be promoted to the EASB Premier Junior Tour which is restricted to the best 40 under-21 players in the country.

The following day, Hughes, who had won three of the previous five legs on the Cuestars Silver Tour, won three of his five matches in the sixth event in Havant but missed out on qualifying for the knockout by one frame.

He dropped to second place, two points adrift of clubmate Charlie Pringle.