David’s unbeaten run ended
DAVID Rice, who finished second to bottom in the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League last season, has been beaten for the first time in the 2016/17 campaign.
And the 22-year-old from Fordingbridge came so close to inflicting only a second defeat in ten years on ten-time and defending champion John Hunter (Andover).
Rice battled back from 2-0 down but lost 3-2 to the league leader at Salisbury Snooker Club.
“I was pleased to give a good account of myself as I don’t play as much as I used to,” he said.
“In the decider, I had one good chance at the end but just broke down early on.”
Neil Herd (Frome) moved ahead of Rice into second place after a “really enjoyable” 4-1 victory over Paul Burt (Britford).
Herd compiled breaks of 39 and 32 while Burt weighed in with runs of 32 and 51.
“The result was a lot closer than the score shows,” insisted Herd.
“It was good to get back on the winning track after losing before Christmas to Simon Peacock.”
Meanwhile, Peacock, The Tornado from Winterbourne Gunner, edged Stuart Dreyer 3-2.
Dreyer said: “The match could have gone either way but Simon potted well in the last frame.”
Peacock added: “I had to get in first and I did with a 32 break. After that, I built the lead and managed to win the match.”
Richard Arnold admitted that breaks of 30, 34 and a 55 clearance by Neil Carroll (Rownhams) “were essentially the difference between the two players” in his 4-1 defeat.
Carroll said: “I scored well at the right times.”
Anthony Rice moved up one place to fourth after overcoming Steve Ashton 4-1.
The 19-year-old, who won the first two frames on the final black, said: “It was a very close game and I really didn’t deserve the 4-0 lead that I had.
“Steve is always a very tough match player to beat so I was very pleased with the result.”
And Gary Hart (Porton) “managed to scrape” a 4-1 win against John Rice (Fordingbridge).
Results: Gary Hart 4 John Rice 1, Neil Carroll 4 Richard Arnold 1, Neil Herd 4 Paul Burt 1, Anthony Rice 4 Steve Ashton 1, Stuart Dreyer 2 Simon Peacock 3, John Hunter 3 David Rice 2.
Highest break: John Hunter 72
| Played | Won | Lost | Frames for | Against | Points | |
| John Hunter | 5 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 6 | 24 |
| Neil Herd | 5 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 6 | 23 |
| David Rice | 5 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 20 |
| Anthony Rice | 5 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 19 |
| Steve Ashton | 5 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 18 |
| Simon Peacock | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 17 |
| Neil Carroll | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 17 |
| Paul Burt | 5 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 12 |
| Stuart Dreyer | 5 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 10 |
| Gary Hart | 5 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 9 |
| Richard Arnold | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 7 |
| John Rice | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 4 |
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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)