Mike helps team to victory

MANCHESTER Team: Chris Norbury , Craig Steadman and Michael Wild

MOORSIDE snooker star Michael Wild was a member of the three-man Manchester side which won the English Amateur Snooker and Billiards Association’s team event held at Birmingham and Sheffield.

Wild (28) linked up with Walkden’s Craig Steadman (centre) and Preston’s Chris Norbury to land the prestigious title and book his place in two top overseas competitions.

Wild, Steadman and Norbury will take part in the world team championship in Australia or India at the end of this year, while next March the trio will represent England in the European equivalent in Rumania.

They defeated Suffolk 8-1, Newcastle 8-1, reigning champions Exeter 5-3 and current world champions Durham 5-1 in the opening rounds in Birmingham.

That earned them a place against West Midlands in the final at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield and it was the Manchester lads who held their nerve to win 5-3.

Wild has had a solid year in the amateur game, but is still striving to reach the professionals’ tour he graced a few seasons ago.

He just missed out on one of the eight places up for grabs in the top 128, so this latest three-man team success has provided some welcome consolation.