WILTSHIRE potter Riley Ellis has taken over top spot on the Cuestars U21 Silver Tour after collecting his second winner’s trophy of the season in London.

The 14-year-old, from Clyffe Pypard near Royal Wootton Bassett, overcame first-time finalist Richard Hillgrove (Southend) 2-0 in the fourth leg at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.

Ellis, who also won the second leg at Waterlooville Sports Bar, has a slender one-point advantage over Louie Leighton (Basildon).

Ellis battled hard all day, no more so than in his 2-1 semi-final victory over Will Forster (Gosport).

He won the first frame on the black, lost the next on a re-spotted black after needing snookers, and stepped up a gear to cruise through the decider.

The victory came as no surprise to the teenager’s World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley, who is based at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club near Southampton.

Dunkley said: “Riley has worked so hard to get where he is now.

“He now has tremendous cue power and he’s timing the ball beautifully.

“But on top of that, he’s developed a battling attitude which means he’s winning more than his share of close frames. That is a great asset.”

Leighton dropped to second after finishing bottom of his four-man round-robin group, in the event sponsored by Frames Sports Bar and Mr Gold.

Ellis – the 2016/17 Bronze Tour rankings champion, who is sponsored by the 147 Snooker Club in Swindon and Save On Tyres – leads Leighton by one point at the top of the rankings.

Leg-three winner Shane Kearns (Swindon), who was beaten 2-1 by Ellis in the last-eight, is third.

Meanwhile, Katie Griffin (Swindon) is in fifth place on the Bronze Tour after a third successive quarter-final defeat. She lost 2-0 to Londoner John Donovan, the eventual tournament winner.

Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the fifth leg of ten on Sunday, January 6.