Thame's Lee Richardson and James Tatton, from County Club, Bicester, have been selected to play for England A at the inaugural European Team Snooker Cup in Riga, Latvia from March 22 to 27.

Both players have won an English National Senior Tour event this season, and are second and third in the rankings behind Exeter's Andrew Radford.

The eventual top three in the rankings will be promoted to World Snooker's main tour next season.

There are three events remaining, with the next one to be held at Woking at the beginning of next month.

The England A team will be among the favourites for the first European team title in the Baltic state, along with the B team, which features the next three players in senior rankings.

The third member of the team is Daniel Ward from Darlaston, West Midlands, who is ranked fourth in the English rankings, as leader Radford declined to play due to work comittments.

OLLIE Hoeblyn, 16, increased his highest match break while competing in the under 19 ranking series event at the Potters Club in Coalville, Leicester.

The young ace knocked in a total clearance of 132 during his victory against Harrogate's Luke Grimes in the first round.