Hunter out points title-rival Townsend in Salisbury

JOHN Hunter reckons the final of the ninth and penultimate leg of the Cuestars Masters Tour evoked memories of the 1975 Thrilla in Manila.

The 58-year-old from Andover was last man standing at Salisbury Snooker Club on the Snooker Hub-sponsored midweek circuit for players aged 55 and over.

A 2-0 victory over title-rival Karl Townsend (Northolt) was Hunter’s fifth Masters tournament win of the season and, more importantly, gave him a 14-point lead going into the last event.

The four-time and defending champion said: “I fluked the last red and cleared to the pink to win the first frame.

“It was a bit like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in the second frame with Karl’s trainer throwing in the towel just before my trainer was going to.”

Best performance of the day has to be home player Howard McKenzie reaching his second semi-final – and while using a new cue.

The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury, hosts the tenth and final leg on Wednesday, May 7.

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

BREAKS

John Hunter: 62, 40.
Karl Townsend: 61, 41, 38.
Howard McKenzie: 53, 43.
Dennis Tristram: 46.

RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Phil Butler (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 4th, Martin Evans (Blandford Forum Snooker Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Karl Townsend (Rickmansworth RBL); 2nd, Howard McKenzie (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 4th, David Stewart (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Andy Norman (Castle SC, Brighton); 2nd, Dennis Tristram (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Danjo Rubin (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP D: 1st, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford); 2nd, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC); 4th, Malcolm Slark (Salisbury SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (10 pts): Townsend 2-1 Arnold, McKenzie 2-0 Thomas, Butler 2-0 Norman, Hunter 2-0 Tristram.

SEMI-FINALS (£20, 15 pts): Hunter 2-0 McKenzie, Townsend 2-0 Butler.

FINAL (£80/£40, 25/18 pts): Hunter 2-0 Townsend.

Picture: John Hunter (left) and Karl Townsend.