Snooker: IoM face tough outing at Home Internationals

Manx team takes on strong opposition in Leeds

The Isle of Man went through a tough set of results as they took part in this year's Home Internationals event in Leeds at the weekend.

A four-strong Manx team of Darryl Hill, Dollin Mercer, Marek Kenny and debutant Conor Mahon faced off against UK and Ireland national sides at the Northern Snooker Centre from Friday to Sunday last week (2-4 August).

The quartet made it as far as the semi-finals play-offs of the cup tournament there before exiting in their final game of the competition on Sunday after a 5-1 loss to Republic of Ireland.

That followed a string of difficult matches in which they lost all three of their group stage contests.

An 11-1 opening loss to Scotland on Friday night was followed by an improved display in a 9-3 defeat at the hands of Wales A on the Saturday.

But the Island side couldn't build on that further as they went down 12-0 against England B on Sunday morning.

Despite the team's difficult run, there was Manx representation in the latter stages of the tournament as Isle of Man referee Dave Kelly - who'd travelled with the squad - was selected to officiate the championship final match for the second time in three years.