SWINDON teenager Shane Kearns is convinced he can compete on the regional junior snooker circuit after landing his first winner’s trophy for nearly two years.

The Cuestars U21 Silver Tour member allowed his cue to do the talking in the third leg on home tables at Jesters Snooker Club.

Kearns defeated Portsmouth potter Samuel Laxton 2-0 in the final of the event sponsored by Nice Clean Ltd and Don Rogers Sports.

The 17-year-old earned promotion from the Bronze Tour at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, but was knocked out in the groups stages in seven of the eight tournaments he entered last season.

But he stuck at it and picked up the runner-up trophy in the first leg in Salisbury two months ago before following it up with this success in Swindon.

Reflecting on his historic day, Kearns said: “I knew it was going to be tough, but I managed to keep it together and I played well.

“Winning the final has given me the confidence to know I can do well on the Silver Tour.”

Kearns topped his four-man round-robin group, despite losing 2-1 to leg-two winner and rankings leader Louie Leighton (Basildon), and didn’t drop a frame in the knockout.

He beat O’Shay Scott (Eastleigh) and Kaine Petty (Fordingbridge) by 2-0 scorelines to reach the final.

Riley Ellis (Clyffe Pypard, North Wilts), who won the second leg in Waterlooville, was knocked out in the group stages but picked up the Plate runner-up trophy after losing 2-1 to Keegan Reed in the final.

And Katie Griffin (Swindon) qualified for the Bronze Tour quarter-finals, but lost 2-1 to eventual winner Harry Wyatt (Ferndown).

The fourth leg of 10 is at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, on Sunday, December 2.