League leader Hunter survives Burt scare
BRITFORD’S Paul Burt has come the nearest to toppling the unbeaten leader of the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League.
In the seventh round of matches at Salisbury Snooker Club, Burt took Andover’s John Hunter to a fifth frame decider.
Speaking after a 3-2 defeat, Burt, 48, said: “It was a closely-fought match. John just nipped in front.”
And a relieved Hunter admitted: “It was my closest match of the season.”
Meanwhile, second-placed Trevor Pittman (Salisbury) extended his lead over James Bolton, in third spot, to five points with a 4-1 victory against the 16-year-old from Amesbury.
Breaks of 33 and 28 helped Pittman to a 4-0 lead. Bolton, who had a 26, took the fifth frame on the pink.
The 43-year-old said: “We played on the tight match table, which was hard work and very unforgiving.”
After four straight defeats, Alex Thorn (Shrewton) has picked up a second successive win.
Although he admitted he “had to work hard and dig deep” to secure a 3-2 success against Jeremy Dawson (Gillingham, Dorset).
The pair shared the first four frames. Thorn took the decider on the black after Dawson had clawed back a 30-plus point deficit.
“Jeremy did well to scrap back to close the gap,” said the 36-year-old. “We boxed the colours out, resulting in a black ball game. I took it with a cut to the middle.”
Neil Carroll (Southampton) subjected Richard Arnold (Salisbury) to his third 3-2 defeat on the trot and Steve Ashton (Shrewton) saw off Gary Hart (Porton) 3-2 to record a first win since December 9.