Potters Thai-d up in nots by Wattana (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Potters Thai-d up in nots by Wattana

11:46am Tuesday 24th November 2009 in Sport

KIDDERMINSTER potter Lee Page found the going tough as he lost his Pukka Pies UK Snooker Championship qualifying match to Thai veteran James Wattana on Monday.

The 22-year-old lost 9-4 in the best of 17 frames clash at Pontin's in Prestatyn.

Page was always chasing the double Shanghai Open winner but did his best to push him as far as he could.

He had pulled it back to 4-2 but Wattana took a decisive lead by winning the next two frames.

Despite the setback, Page battled on and won another frame, but Wattana took an 8-3 lead.

Page, who play and practices at Snooks in Kidderminster, delayed Wattana's victory by winning a fourth frame but he was unable to spark a fight back and his Chinese opponent won the next one to book a second qualifying round clash with Robert Milkins.

Page admitted that he lost the match in the opening session, when Wattana powered into a four-frame lead.

He said: "I lost the match in the morning, after that I was always catching up.

"That was always going to make things hard for me in the afternoon session.

"I am going to have to work on my starts, I don't think I've won a first frame all season.

"I've got two months until the next tournament, so all I can do is work even harder in practise.

"My confidence has taken a knock but once I get this defeat out of my system in a few days time I will be back in training."

Page will be aiming to grab his first win since returning to the ranks of professional snooker when he starts the qualifying tournament for the Welsh Open Champions against David Hogan on Tuesday, January 19.