Hunter: that’s the best I’ve played this season

JOHN Hunter reckons he’s “never too old to improve” after regaining top spot on the Cuestars Masters Tour.

The 58-year-old from Andover won the fourth leg of the Snooker Hub-sponsored midweek circuit for players aged 55 and over to move ahead of David Moritz.

Hunter opened his 2-0 victory over his title-rival in the final at Salisbury Snooker Club with a 79 break. Moritz (Pinner), who was also runner-up in the previous leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club, put the colours safe in the second frame but Hunter prevailed on the blue after a one hour “arm wrestle”.

A contender for frame of the day came in his quarter-final tie with Mark Thomas. Trailing 1-0, Thomas (Chorleywood) kicked off the next with a brilliant 57 break and left his opponent snookered with five reds in the open.

Hunter’s only realistic option was to smash the cue-ball into the reds and hope to fluke one. He achieved the next best result of leaving one red over a pocket with no possible pot on for Thomas who was forced to play safe.

Hunter, who also leads the World Super Seniors rankings, then cleared the table with a run of 66 to win by one point.

He said: “I love the way Mark plays. He’s very attacking and pays me no respect.

“We get on great but he wasn’t able to speak to me for some time afterwards!

“That’s the best I’ve played this season. The new practice methods are starting to pay off. You are never too old to improve.”

And with the 17-strong field returning 15 breaks of more than 30, he added: “The Salisbury tables are playing well.”

Meanwhile, Karl Townsend (Northolt), who has won seven of the 11 events he has entered, recorded breaks of 73 and 46 in his quarter-final match against Neil Carroll (Southampton) – and lost 2-1.

And Steve Russell (Harrow) reached the last-four for the first time

The Crucible Sports & Social Cub, Newbury, hosts the fifth leg of ten on Wednesday, December 18.

To find out more about the amateur game, visit snookerhub.co.uk.

BREAKS

John Hunter: 83, 79, 66, 65, 65.
Karl Townsend: 73, 46.
Neil Carroll: 60, 43.
Mark Thomas: 57.
David Moritz: 51, 36.
Ray Grall: 43, 39.
Andy Darken: 37.

RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Steve Russell (Eastcote Billiards Club); 3rd, Stephen Hills (Northfleet Traders Club, Gravesend); 4th, Andy Norman (Castle SC, Brighton).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, David Moritz (Shots, Watford); 2nd, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Dennis Tristram (Shots, Watford); 4th, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Karl Townsend (Rickmansworth RBL); 3rd, Mark Burrell (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Phil Butler (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC); 3rd, Andy Darken (Feltham Constitutional Club); 4th, Howard McKenzie (Salisbury SC); 5th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (10 pts): Carroll 2-1 Townsend, Hunter 2-0 Thomas, Moritz 2-1 Grall, Russell 2-0 Ashton.

SEMI-FINALS (£20, 15 pts): Hunter 2-0 Carroll, Moritz 2-0 Russell.

FINAL (£90/£40, 25/18 pts): Hunter 2-0 Moritz.

Picture: John Hunter (let) and David Moritz