New boys struggle in South Wilts League
THERE were no wins for the new boys on their debuts in the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League at Salisbury Snooker Club.
Paul McFarlane, and his £9.99 Argos cue, went 3-0 down to Richard Arnold’s superior safety play and all-round match-play.
McFarlane pulled one back and nicked the fifth after Arnold went ‘in-off’ the final black.
Nick Bevan also lost by the odd frame in five, to Alex Thorn (Shrewton).
A fluked ‘cocked hat’ pink gave Bevan the second frame after Thorn had laid four snookers.
And Mansoor Daviani lost 4-1 to Neil Carroll (Rownhams).
Meanwhile, defending champion John Hunter (Andover) constructed breaks of 53, 42 and 49 to take a 3-1 lead against Steve Ashton (Shrewton).
Ashton, who took the third with a run of 41, restricted Hunter to just three points in the fifth.
Stuart Dreyer said “ring rust from both players” contributed to a scrappy encounter against the 2010/11 runner-up Trevor Pittman.
“Trevor’s safety play was stronger than mine which eventually won him the day,” admitted Dreyer after the 4-1 defeat.
Breaks of 31 and 36 by Gary Hart (Porton) were not enough to see off Paul Burt (Britford), who prevailed 3-2.
Trailing 1-0, Burt won three straight frames on the pink.
Hart said: “He potted some great pressure pinks. I managed to nick the last with a long blue down the cushion.”
Results: Stuart Dreyer 1 Trevor Pittman 4, Paul Burt 3 Gary Hart 2, Neil Carroll 4 Mansoor Daviani 1, Richard Arnold 3 Paul McFarlane 2, Alex Thorn 3 Nick Bevan 2, John Hunter 3 Steve Ashton 2.
Highest break: John Hunter 53.