Debut win for Peacock
ONE was “delighted” and the other admitted he was “nervous” after the two new boys had opened the 2015/16 Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League season.
Simon Peacock clawed back a 2-1 deficit to overcome fellow debutant David Rice 3-2 as the 12th campaign cued off at Salisbury Snooker Club.
“The match was very tight with both of us going for everything we could,” said the 42-year-old from Winterbourne Gunner.
Apart from the fourth frame in which Peacock made a 31 break, the rest were decided on the last three colours.
Rice, 20, from Fordingbridge said: “I was a bit nervous after all the hype was created about him.
“Neither of us got going and it was a very scrappy match.
“The final frame could have gone either way. I had a good chance to win it but I broke down on 16.”
The highest break of the first week’s action was a 64 fashioned by Neil Herd (Frome) in the opening frame of his 4-1 victory over Richard Arnold (Salisbury).
Defending under-21 champion Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) – David Rice’s brother – accounted for Steve Ashton (Salisbury) 4-1.
“I’ve been on some great form lately… but I didn’t score the way I expected to,” admitted the 18-year-old. “I had a poor start and I was a little nervous.
“Steve is a good match player and I knew it would be a tough game. (But) 4-1 was not really a fair reflection of the match and Steve will probably be disappointed.
“Regardless of how I won the match, I’m happy with the result and it could prove important at the end of the season.”
Nine-time and defending champion John Hunter (Andover) kicked off with breaks of 61 and 52 in a 5-0 victory over 16-year-old Callum McDonald (Bishopdown).
Hunter said: “Callum kept going really well and, but for the misfortune of snookering himself on the pink after potting a brilliant blue, came very closing to nicking the last frame off me.”
Paul Burt (Britford) was “pleased” with his start despite going down 3-2 to last season’s runner-up Richard Swaffield (Salisbury) after missing the black for a 35 clearance from 34 behind in the first frame.
“It was a good match,” he said.
Swaffield, who made it 2-0 with a run of 47, said: “Paul played a solid safety game and had me under pressure in a few frames.
“I won two frames comfortably but the other three were all on the last few colours and could’ve gone either way.”
And Neil Carroll (Rownhams) said his 3-2 defeat by Trevor Pittman (Salisbury) was “one for the connoisseur”.
Results: Neil Carroll 2 Trevor Pittman 3, Paul Burt 2 Richard Swaffield 3, John Hunter 5 Callum McDonald 0, Richard Arnold 1 Neil Herd 4, Anthony Rice 4 Steve Ashton 1, Simon Peacock 3 David Rice 2.
Report by Tim Dunkley.