Despair for Morgan on return home

Snooker

Darren Morgan, the Welshman ranked No 9 in the world, arrived back in Britain yesterday to discover that his mother Cynthia had already died from cancer.

Morgan returned from Bangkok, where he had been playing in the Castrol- Honda World Cup, to be with his ailing mother. But less than 90 minutes into his flight to Heathrow news came through to the Thai capital that she had already died in a Newport hospice.

Mrs Morgan had been fighting against cancer since 1988 but suffered a relapse while her son was on World Cup duty.

The 30-year-old Morgan wanted to travel back earlier in the week but stayed to help Wales qualify for the quarter-finals on his mother's wish.

The remaining team took a break from the event yesterday before the knock- out stages get underway today. When the competition resumes the second favourites, England, meet Australia and the Republic of Ireland take on Canada.

On Thursday Thailand, after their 9-0 whitewash of the United Arab Emirates, face the Welsh. Mark Bennett, who reached the semi-finals of the Grand Prix at Bournemouth 10 days ago, takes Morgan's place.