Mark is On the Boyle
Mark Boyle has already rattled in three centuries as he bids to help the Scottish team life The European Team Championship title.
Scotland's Mark Boyle enjoyed a productive day in St. Petersburg as he bids to help his Scottish team mates lift the European Mens Team Championship.
The former professional rattled in runs of 129, 126 and 114, as well as another eight breaks over fifty, to head up the high break board.
Sadly for Boyle, his team slipped to a 12-6 defeat at the hands of a strong Belgium team, but they bounced back to trounce Russia's third team 18-0.
That was followed by a hard fought 11-7 win over Iceland, who are led by former professional Kristjan Helgason, who made an 85 break in the match, while his team mate Ingvi Halldorsson contributed runs of 52 and 57.
Following their match the Scotland team reverted to their second (if not third!) childhood and invaded the Kiddies Play area, commandeering an assortment of motorised fluffy animals to hold an impromptu race round the venue. It's hard to say who won, but an unseemly amount of bumping and barging left the matter in the hands of the Stewards!
Back in the venue sanity prevailed, apart from one Russian player who got an official warning for banging his cue down, although I think something may have got lost in the translation as he looked totally unaware of what was happening to him!
Malta '2', helped by a crucial 62 break from Duncan Pisani, scraped home 10-8 victors over Israel, but the Israelis held Cyprus to a 9-9 draw, during which Arama Shai put 59 on the break board.
Alexey Denisov compiled 67 in a 3-15 defeat of Russia '2' by Malta '2'.
Malta's number one team, the 2004 and 2005 champions, bullied their way to a 12-6 win over Belgium, a match in which Alex Borg featured strong with an 82 and two runs of 69, while Belgium replied through Alain Vanderstein 53, and Yvan Van Velthoven 55.
The Maltese trio of Alex Borg, Simon Zammit and Duncan Bezzina were back on the table against Russia '3', cruising to a 17-1 win.
Ireland, the defending champions, overcame France 14-4, but it was France's Francois Marty, with 89, who made the best break of the match, and his compatriot Jean Marc Beauchamp made 65. David Hogan was Ireland's sharp shooter with 78, and 58 twice.
