WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS - Malta are the first European Team Cup Champions.

The popular Maltese team overpowered England's trio in Riga on Saturday as they opened first a 4-2 lead, which rapidly turned into 9-3, to leave England teetering on the brink of defeat.

England pulled back a couple of frames, but it was asking too much to expect a miracle.

As Duncan Bezzina potted a red which put his frame against Daniel Ward beyond doubt, a whoop of delight went up from the army of Maltese supporters who'd made the long trip to Riga.

As the formalities were completed the final score was 10-7, with the last frame not played.

An immense cheer was given to the Latvian Federation and NB Hotel at the closing ceremony for the unbelievable amount of work they put in to ensure that the event was a rip-roaring success.

But the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for the Latvian ladies team, who established themselves and Latvian snooker on the world map, gaining third place in the Ladies Event. And roars of delight rose from English throats as Katie Henrick and Reanne Evans collected the Ladies Team Cup.

The audience sang "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" as Irishmen Joe Delaney and Patsy Farrell (who is actually from Tipperary) received their Seniors Trophy and huge accolade from his fellow players went to Scotland's Thomas McSorley who wrote his name into the history books with his fabulous 147 maximum break. McSorley received a special 300 Euro award from the EBSA for his achievement.

The 2005 European Team Cup will be held in Carlow in Ireland and everyone is already planning their trip.

But before that there is little time to draw breath before the cream of European Junior snooker assembles in Wellingborough, England for the European Under 19 Championship, commencing on Monday 5 April. As usual the EBSA is the Official Website for the event and live scores, news and photographs will be posted regularly.

The flagship event on the EBSA calendar is the European Championships for Men, Ladies and Seniors and that takes place in Austria from 25 May to 6 June 2004.

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING IN RIGA

Republic of Ireland lifted the inaugural European Seniors Team Cup in Riga with a hard earned 7-5 win over the 'never say die' Scottish Seniors.

"Boy, was that some pressure", said Patsy O'Farrell, who won his first international title, at the age of 42, on his debut.

And the Irish were quick to post a warning to the "old boys network" that they're the team to beat. "We'll be there for the European Championships and the new World Team Cup", said Joe Delaney, who achieved a rare double of European Seniors Championship in its inaugural year and now the Euro Team Cup at the first attempt.

And it was Delaney who produced the only break of note, 65, in a match dominated from some superb safety play from all four players.

Delaney, the Dublin bus driver from Wexford won both his matches 2-1, which proved to be the difference between the teams, as Farrell beat Stephen Baillie 2-1, but lost out by the same margin to David Hutchison. The disappointed Scots were sporting as ever saying "We gave it our best, but these boys were just too good for us on the day.

When asked how he felt after the match teetotaller Stephen Baillie said "I'm off to the bar to get hammered!"

ENGLAND'S EURO EUPHORIA

Katie Henrick and Reanne Evans justified their "favourites" tag by polishing off the Polish Ladies in the European Team Cup Final at the NB Club in Riga.

The final score was 7-1, but the matches were a lot closer than the score line suggested.

Maria Nielubowicz shared the frames with Katie Henrick and three more frames went to the black.

But Chairman of Poland, Kazimierz Olejniczak, still beaming, despite defeat said "We are still winners. It was a  great experience for our ladies team and everyone is thrilled."

Both the English ladies, Henrick from Rochester in Kent, and Reanne Evans from Dudley, were making their England debut and were under pressure to live up to the reputation established by previous English stars like Allison and Kelly Fisher.

And it was also the first major title either player had collected. Henrick had previously reached the final in World Ladies Ranking events and Evans has stormed up the world rankings, having reached the semi finals of the World Ladies championship on her debut.

But they both came through with flying colours, impressing everyone who saw their high standard of play and winning new friends all over Europe, with their friendly smiles.

The girls won't have too much time to savour their victory before getting down to more serious practice, as both compete in the 2004 Ladies Connie Gough Memorial Championship at Luton next weekend.

ENGLAND DASH DUTCH HOPES

The England Men's team surged to a 12-6 victory over the Netherlands Number Two team to take their place in the first European Team Cup Final.

And they will face Malta, who reproduced their semi final form to beat Republic of Ireland 11-7.

After twelve frames honours were even. All six games were drawn.

Daniel Ward compiled 74 against Rene van Rijsbergen, while team mate Lee Richardson constructed 83 in his match against Stefan Mazrocis, who responded with 44 and 57 for his frame win. James Tatton then chipped in with 51 against Gerrit bij de Leij.

But from six-six the English gathered tthemselves for a push to the line. Lee Richardson fired in 62 to beat van Rijsbergen 2-0, Tatton, also against van Rijsbergen, plundered 70 and 56 and Daniel Ward added 64 and 45 and England swept away to a 12-6 win.

The Maltese trio of Alex Borg, Simon Zammit and Duncan Bezzina turned in a real "team" performance against the Irish.

Bezzina set the team buzzing with a run of 89 in a 1-1 draw with Robert Murphy. Zammit drew with T J Dowling, but Borg gave the team the advantage with breaks of 43 and 73 to beat Tom Gleeson 2-0.

The second round ended honours even, as Borg added further breaks of 58 and 41 to beat Murphy 2-0. Bezzina compiled 63 and 43 to draw with Dowling, but Gleeson got a vital two frames on the Irish side, beating Zammit.

Gleeson then gave Ireland further hope with a 2-0 victory over Bezzina, helped by a run of 51, but Borg and Zammit powered through 2-0 against Dowling and Murphy.

POLE VAULTERS

The final of the European Team Cup Ladies competition will be contested by the favourites England and outsiders Poland.

The loudest cheer of the week rang round Riga as Poland won a dramatic extra frame shoot out on the black to beat the Netherlands ladies.

And the happiest man in Latvia was Chairman of the Polish Association, the hugely popular Kazimierz Olejniczak.

"This is such a happy day", beamed Kazimierz.

"For seven years I have worked for Polish Snooker and now our ladies have brought a great result for Poland."

Holland got off to a good start when Janice van Gastel beat Maria Nielubowicz 2-0 and she then drew with Malgorzata Klys to put the Dutch 3-1 ahead.

Jaimy van der Sande drew 1-1 with Klys, leaving the Dutch needing just a single frame to reach the final.

But Nielubowicz won two emphatic frames against Sande to send the match into an extra frame shoot-out.

The same two players contested the tension packed decider, which only fittingly went to the black, and Nielubowicz sank it for Poland's historic win.

UNDERDOGS CAUSE SHOCKS IN EURO TEAM CUP

The second group stage of the European Cup provided some shock results as first the favourites Netherlands 1 were edged out by Republic of Ireland on frame difference, and then Malta turned in a superb team performance to beat England Two 10-8 and take their place in the semi final line up.

The Netherlands' second team made up for the exit of their first string, but coming through with wins over Belgium and Cyprus to reach the semi finals.

England's number one team completed the semi final line up.

The English went head to head against Scotland and the "auld enemies"  dished up a thriller. After twelve frames, the teams were still locked at 6-6, but England found an extra burst in the last round of matches, and powe3red away to win 12-6.

James Tatton harvested five points out of six for his team and plundered breaks of 61, 41, 50 and 51, only dropping a frame to Ian Wilkie.

Wilkie took both frames from the new Baltic Champion Daniel Ward, to keep Tartan hopes alive, but breaks of 40, 82 and 95 from Lee Richardson helped helped to add another four points to the English side of the scoreboard.

Maximum man Thomas McSorley notched 93 against Richardson to earn a draw, and he also drew against Ward, but the two fifty breaks from Tatton reduced McSorley to the role of spectator in the final match.

Malta's Alex Borg (left) led his team to victory against England. A break of 78 by Borg was the highlight of a hard fought match. The Maltese media have been avidly following the progress of their players and are giving the European Team Cup headline coverage in their daily papers.

Malta's reward for their giant killing is a semi final match against Republic of Ireland.

The cornerstone of the Irish victory was a 13-5 win over the strong Belgian team. A draw with Holland meant that the Dutch needed to beat Belgium 14-4 to go through, but with the pressure well and truly on, they could only manage an 11-7 victory, during which Bas Jansen (right) compiled a superb 121.

Scotland's seniors earned a great victory over the Belgium team, who had been widely tipped to take the title. Stephen Baillie and David Hutchison battled to a 7-5 win to set up an all-Celtic Final against Republic of Ireland, who thumped England 11-1.

Patsy Farrell posted a new Seniors' high break with a run of 75, which could have been more had he not missed a routine blue. For good measure he added 38, 37 and 60 to beat both Englishmen 3-0. Joe Delaney added a resounding 3-0 over Winston Dwyer, but Ali Bassiri managed one consolation frame to avoid the whitewash.

DUTCH COURAGE WILL BE NEEDED TO BEAT HOLLAND

The last Continental Team Cup Champions, Holland, are guaranteed number one seeding for the next stage of the European Team Cup.

Their number one team has powered through its group matches, returning a full six points and a frame difference of +36. England are close on their heels with six points and +34. But final seedings can't be resolved until Netherlands 2, who still have to play Switzerland, complete their group.

Both Dutch teams have been stroking in big breaks, led by Stefan Mazrocis who has notched up 128, 115 and 100.

Mazrocis, whose mother is Latvian, is making his first ever trip to the country of his forefathers. But with such a busy playing schedule he hasn't had a chance to meet distant relatives, who have a farm near Riga.

Roy Stolk, 114, Gerrit bij de Leij 110 and Mario Wehrmann 101, have added to the Dutch breaks tally.

Republic of Ireland nearly suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Germany. Kurt Stock, Patrick Einsle and Olaf Thode swept into a 9-4 lead over the Irish, before experience came to the fore and the Irish somehow scrabbled a 9-9 draw.

Scotland were edged into second place in Group B by Belgium. A 9-9 draw between the teams gave Belgium the frame advantage in the Group.

A 10-8 win for Malta over Finland gave the Maltese top spot in Group C.

There was great cheer around Riga as the Latvian number one team beat Hungary 12-6. Vladimir Ladins, Peteris Strazdins and Arturs Neilands all contributed to the win for Latvians, but sadly it won't be enough to take them into the second stage.

The Latvian seniors weren't in such good form against England, for whom Ali Bassiri compiled the highest break so far, 67.

Ireland's Joe Delaney lost his 100% record, as Poland's Jacek Rudowicz took a frame on the black to earn a draw.

Ireland completed their Group B seniors matches with a full points tally and a frame difference of +16. Seeding for the semi finals will depend on Belgium's performance against France in their last match.

'EVANS' ABOVE

Reanne Evans and Katie Henrick, both making their England debuts, are powering through the European Team Cup Ladies event.

Neither player has yet dropped a frame in beating Latvia and Finland.

Evans has stroked in the highest break for the ladies to date, 59, along with 39 in beating Aino Pehkonen and Riitta Koskinen.

Henrick, who is the resident coach at the RAC Club in London, and a former WSA Young Player of Distinction, has chipped in 46 and 44 during her matches.

Group B is altogether a closer affair. Latvia Team 1 and Germany hold a slight advantage over France and the Netherlands, but that could all change as Latvia and Germany go head to head in their final match, leaving a chance for either France or the Netherlands to overtake either of the top teams.

The Latvian home crowd are cheering on their girls Inese Kazoka and Tatjana Vasiljeva, who will qualify if they beat Germany on Thursday.

IT'S A LONG WAY FROM TIPPERARY

Patsy Farrell has put new meaning into the old expression as the Tipperary based cue man has made the very long trip to Riga to make his first International appearance for Ireland on the seniors team alongside the 2000 European Seniors Champion Joe Delaney.

And Farrell, who is a coach to many of Ireland's up and coming stars, is thoroughly enjoying his Latvian experience as Ireland are riding high at the top of Group B in the Seniors event.

Farrell has notched up a useful five points for the team, while Delaney is yet to drop a frame.

Farrell summed up the feelings of all those players enjoying participation in the Seniors events by saying "I sometimes feel a bit sorry for the young players trying to make their way in the game. They play under great pressure.

"We still want to win just as much, but it's not life and death, and we know at the end of it all, it is just a game."

Farrell put his "play hard, but enjoy" policy into practice against Scotland's Stephen Baillie, who is making his debut as a Senior. But it was Baillie who triumphed 2-0 in the match despite some moments of high hilarity, as some dastardly snookers were laid, with a grin and "get out of that"!

Baillie is carrying his passport around as several seniors insist he can't be old enough to participate!

Belgium are favourites to lift the Seniors title and their pairing of Yvan Leus and Luc Devriese are living up to their billing, dominating Group A.

At the moment they boast an identical record to Republic of Ireland in Group B.

With one match left for both teams, frame count could prove vital as to who bags the number one seeding.

But they've all been upstaged by Iceland's Sigfus Helgason, who has compiled the best Senior break so far, a run of 57 against Farrell.

THOMAS TANKS IN A 147

Twenty-four year old Thomas McSorley, from Gourock in Scotland, made history in the inaugural European Team Cup in Riga on Tuesday morning, compiling the first ever 147 maximum break seen in Latvia, and, of course, the first in the European Team Cup.

McSorley, whose previous best was 145 in a Scottish ranking event, warmed up against his Latvian opponent Artis Berzins with a run of exactly 100 and followed it up with his fabulous 147 break.

Berzins could only stand nonplussed as McSorley rattled up 247 points in double quick time.

Berzins broke off in frame two, but left the Scot a long red, which disappeared into a distant pocket and he landed on the black.

It was plain sailing until the third last red, which was the thinnest of cuts into the middle, played with running side to get back on the black. In potting the black McSorley split the last two reds off the pink to keep the break going.

He didn't gain perfect position on the final black and had to screw it in and come off three cushions to leave a tough yellow from near the cushion. But down it went and the rest, as they say is history.

McSorley, who plays at Rileys Club in Greenock, was thrilled with his achievement but conceded that he felt the nerves.

"I was shaking, but I didn't want to stop to think about it, so I just kept going.

"I didn't get right on the pink and left a cut back on the black, but that's one of my favourite shots, so I was confident of potting it.

"The shot I had to play to snick the red in the middle and get back to the black was the 'shot of my life'. It was so close to the cushion and needed a lot of side."

McSorley will receive of special award from the EBSA for his achievement.

EBSA Chairman, Jim Lacey commented "It's wonderful to see such a high standard of play, it's a great boost to the host Association.

Chairman of Scottish Snooker Ltd, Stephen Baillie, competing in Latvia on the Senior Team said "I told you so".

"Thomas was playing so well in practice here that I said he'd go and make a 147, but everyone laughed at me.

"Guess who's laughing now! It's a great day for Scottish snooker and it's created so much excitement here Latvia.

"I'm thrilled for Thomas and for the EBSA and our Latvian hosts, to be part of a little piece of snooker history."

THE BALTIC CUP FINAL

Daniel Ward 5-4 James Tatton

14-63(37), 20-74(44), 71(44,27)-4, 52(38)-72(59)

53(43)-45(30), 40-81(64), 61(33)-51(33),

63(37)-44(33), 74(67)-41

England's Daniel Ward recovered from 4-2 down to clinch victory in the 2004 Baltic Cup, in the deciding frame.

And he saved his best for last, compiled a match winning 67 break to leave Tatton needing snookers.

Some superb safety characterised the early part of the match, with both players finding the baulk cushion a magnet.

Oxford's James Tatton chipped in with breaks of 37, 59 30, and 64 to open a 4-2 lead.

Victory was denied him in the seventh as both players made 33 breaks, but Ward sneaked it on the colours to stay in the match. A run of 37 was enough to edge the next on the colours as well.

Tatton got the best of the early exchanges in the final fame. A run of 22 got him established but he missed a red and threw Ward a lifeline, which he grabbed with both hands, much to the delight of his proud parents, who've travelled to Latvia to support their son on his England debut.

But it might never have been. Ward was called into the England squad for the European Team Cup as a last minute reserve when a team mate couldn't get time off work.

ENGLAND GUARANTEED A BALTIC WINNER

James Tatton and Daniel Ward, both new boys on the English team, will contest the final of the 2004 Baltic Team Cup on Monday, at the NB Hotel, Riga.

Tatton overcame Frenchman Yannick Poulain 4-2, while team mate Ward, eventually overcame stubborn resistance from Johannes B. Johannesson to edge home 4-3.

Ward led 3-1 at the interval, but Johannesson pulled by a 50 point deficit in the fifth and then drew level with breaks of 62 and 31 to send the match into a deciding frame.

Both players had their chances in the tense final frame, but it was Ward who came through 61-23.

Poulain opened up with a run of 46 to take the opener against Tatton, but the Englishman rattled off the next two frames, before Poulain pulled level at the interval.

Tatton stormed through the fifth frame and opened up with a run of 38 in the sixth. Poulain responded in similar fashion, cruising through a run of 38 before he missed the simplest of reds and left Tatton the chance to pounce. And he dished up the last couple of reds and colours for victory.

DANIEL WARDS OFF RUNE

England debutant Daniel Ward moved into the semi finals of the Baltic Cup with a narrow 4-3 win over Denmark's Rune Kampe in a high quality match.

Ward compiled a 63 break twice, in frames one and four, while Kampe contributed 38, 33 and 40. But the vital deciding frame was won convincingly 70-13 by the Englishman.

Yannick Poulain kept French hopes alive with another last gasp win, this time over Finland's Risto Vayrynen.

A match winning 74 in the decider and breaks of 44 and 60 helped Poulain into the semis, where he'll face Englishman James Tatton.

Tatton had to sit out the opener to a run of 72 from Belgium's Serge Das, but he dominated the remainder of the match, helped along by breaks of 40, 49 and 37.

Iceland's Johannes B. Johannesson will provide the semi final opposition for Daniel Ward.

"Big Joe" powered past Sweden's Mats Eriksson 4-1 with breaks of 68, 53 and 46.

ENGLISH LIONS ROAR

Lee "The Shirt" Richardson and James Tatton dished up a thrilling last 16 match in the Baltic Cup.

Between them the pair compiled six break in excess of fifty in seven frames, and Tatton saved the best until last, clearing up with a match winning 75 in the decider.

Richardson, opened with 56, which was matched by Tatton in the second.

A run of 53 gave Richardson the third and 52 brought Tatton level at the interval. Richardson took the sixth but Tatton kept in the match with a run of 52, before dishing up the winning break.

Sweden's Mats Eriksson beat Icelander Asgeir Asgeirsson 4-0, while France's Yannick Poulain was made to work much harder.

The Frenchman won a hard fought battle against Costas Konnaris of Cyprus, 4-3, contributing runs of 34 and 40 in the match.

Iceland's Rune Kampe had an equally hard struggle against Iceland's Sumarlidi Gustafsson, clinching the decider to earn a match against Daniel Ward from England.

VAYRYNEN OUSTS THE CHAMP

Risto Vayrynen won an all Finnish clash in the last sixteen of the Baltic Cup, ending the hope of defending champion Jyri Virtanen, with a comprehensive 4-1 win.

Virtanen had sailed through the group section without the loss of a single frame, to earn the number one seeding for the knock outs. But when it came to the knock out, it was Vayrynen who delivered the blow.

"Big Joe", Johannes B. Johannesson, the number two seed, punched in a break of 77 in a 4-0 win over France's Stephane Ochoiski to book a match against Sweden's Mats Eriksson in the quarters.

Daniel Ward joined his England team mates in the last 8, beating France's Jean Marc Beauchamp 4-1.

Serge Das ended the hopes of Scotland's Michael Philbin, but Philbin remains on course for the 100 Euros high break prize, for his superb 129 in the group stages.

BALTIC EURO RE-UNION

Latvia will join the European Union officially in May, but already Latvia is a leading nation in snooker's European Union and Riga opened its doors and welcomed a record fourteen countries into the 2004 Baltic Cup.

A day and a half of intense competition and friendly camaraderie saw sixteen players earn their places in the last sixteen draw.

Defending champion Jyri Virtanen of Finland showed he wasn't going to give up his title in a hurry, as he dominated Group C, winning all his matches 3-0 to take the number one seeding.

Close on his heels was Johannes B. Johannesson from Iceland, who let skip one frame, but went into the draw as number two.

Scotland's Michael Philbin and Daniel Ward both compiled centuries. Philbin took pole position for the high break prize with a superb 129 in his match against Asgeir Asgerisson, while Ward made 109 on his England debut.