World Cup of Pool: Both English teams into semi-finals

England's two teams booked their places in the semi-finals of the World Cup of Pool with victories at York Hall on Saturday night.

Defending champions England A - Darren Appleton and Karl Boyes - eased past Romania, who had exceeded expectations in reaching the last eight in their first World Cup, with a 9-3 victory to set up a clash with Chinese Taipei.

And the England B team of Mark Gray and Daryl Peach then joined them in the last four by twice coming from behind to beat Finland 9-4. They will play Japan in Bethnal Green on Sunday.

Gray and Peach were both 3-1 and 4-3 down before claiming six straight racks for the win.

"We were big favourites so that adds pressure and we are really in the tournament now," said Appleton. "An all-England final is definitely possible now. On paper we have the tougher semi-final but that doesn't mean anything. We would definitely like to play Mark and Daryl in the final."

Peach who partnered Gray in their only other appearance in the event in 2008 when they reached the final, told matchroompool.com: "If I could choose any partner in the pool world, Mark is the man I would be choosing. He is just a machine, he doesn't miss balls. Any long pot, if I can't get him close it doesn't matter where I leave the cue ball. It means I am not under too much pressure to make the pots easy."

Earlier in the afternoon session, Chinese Taipei and Japan booked their places in the last four.

The Taiwanese duo of Ko Pin Yi and Chang Yu Lung defeated a plucky Austrian side of Mario He and Albin Ouschan 9-5 to confirm their place in the last four for the fifth time in their history. 

They are, however, yet to win a semi-final and will be hoping to end that barren run in on Sunday when they meet England A. 

The Austrians endured a difficult afternoon, with He losing the white to the pocket three times from his break shot. He and Ouschan struggled against the Taiwanese pair, committing seven fouls on their way to defeat. 

In the other quarter-final, Japan raced into a commanding lead against opponents Qatar before eventually finishing as 9-4 winners. 

The Japanese duo of Naoyuki Oi and Toru Kuribayashi shot into a 7-0 before being pegged back by the Qatari team of Waleed Majid and Bashar Hussain. 

Oi and Kuribayashi, however, made sure a late revival from the Qataris was quickly snuffed out and ensured it was they who reached the semi-finals of the competition for the second time in their history.