South Wilts away day
IT WAS an away day in the latest round of matches in the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League
All five home players lost at Salisbury Snooker Club.
Richard Arnold (Salisbury) dropped one place to fourth after losing 3-2 in a “dour struggle” to second-placed Trevor Pittman (Salisbury).
Pittman, who admitted it was “cagey stuff”, chalked up a 33 break in the first frame and led 2-0. Arnold levelled with a difficult black but lost a close decider.
Arnold declared: “Had there been an audience, they would probably have retired to the bar early.”
Elsewhere, bottom-of-the-league Alex Thorn (Shrewton) was relieved to be back in form despite going down to James Bolton (Amesbury) 2-3.
Bolton, 16, quadrupled the blue to draw level at 2-2 and sunk a good pink to clinch a thrilling match.
“We both played to a high standard,” said Thorn. “It was an enjoyable match. I was just glad to be back in form again.”
Stuart Dreyer (Salisbury) lost to league leader John Hunter (Andover) 4-1 after taking the first frame.
“John doesn’t drop many frames,” said Dreyer. “It would have been nice to take the final frame but overall it was a good match.”
Paul Burt (Britford) was beaten 4-1 by Neil Carroll (Southampton) and Steve Ashton (Shrewton) lost by the same score to Jeremy Dawson (Gillingham, Dorset).
Results: Alex Thorn 2 James Bolton 3, Paul Burt 1 Neil Carroll 4, Richard Arnold 2 Trevor Pittman 3, Stuart Dreyer 1 John Hunter 4, Steve Ashton 1 Jeremy Dawson 4.