Third success for rankings leader Townsend

WAYNE Townsend stretched his lead at the top of the Cuestars Championship Tour rankings after claiming his third success of the season.

The 43-year-old from Northolt recorded the day’s highest break of 123 in the opening frame of his 3-0 victory over Dharminder Singh Lilly (Fareham) in the final of the sixth leg at Salisbury Snooker Club.

Townsend, who also tasted success in Chandler’s Ford last September and in Newbury in November, pocketed £100 in prize money.

Two other centuries were made under the new LED lighting in the event sponsored by the host club.

Colin Norton (Gosport) fired in a 104 in his first-round Plate success against Adam Stacey (Poplar). And defending rankings champion Marcos Dayao (Battersea Park) chalked up a 107 in his Plate final victory over Norton.

Neil Herd (Frome) lost in the last-four for the second successive Championship Tour event. Simon Dent (Shoreham-by-Sea) was knocked out by Lilly in the other semi.

Townsend leads Mark Lloyd (Gosport) by 31 points with three events remaining. James Budd (Gosport) is third.

Waterlooville Sports Bar hosts the seventh leg of nine on Sunday, March 5.

For more information about Salisbury SC, go to https://salisburysnookerclub.co.uk/.

RESULTS (BREAKS)

LAST-16: Wayne Townsend 3-1 (50) Aristos Pampouris, Stewart Crosswell 3-0 Daniel Hall, James Budd 3-1 Paul Ives, Neil Herd 3-1 Liam O’Shea, Mark Lloyd 3-1 Colin Norton, Dharminder Singh Lilly 3-2 (52) Marcos Dayao, Simon Dent 3-0 Adam Stacey, Mike Trigg bye.

QUARTER-FINALS: Townsend (58) 3-1 Crosswell, Herd 3-1 Budd, Lilly 3-2 (60) Lloyd, Dent (79, 55) 3-0 Trigg.

SEMI-FINALS (£25): Townsend (88, 78) 3-0 Herd, Lilly (66) 3-2 Dent.

FINAL (£100/£50): Townsend (123) 3-0 Lilly.

PLATE RESULTS (BREAKS)

QUARTER-FINALS: Colin Norton (104) 2-1 Adam Stacey, Aristos Pampouris 2-1 Daniel Hall, Mike Trigg 2-0 Paul Ives, Marcos Dayao (63, 56) 2-0 Liam O’Shea.

SEMI-FINALS: Norton (76) 2-0 Pampouris, Dayao 2-0 Trigg.

FINAL (£25): Dayao (107, 53) 2-0 Norton.