Undefeated Carroll in pole position
UNDEFEATED Rownhams cueman Neil Carroll stormed back to top spot in the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League after securing his fourth successive win of the season.
The 47-year-old, who finished fifth last season, chalked up a 3-2 victory over Richard Arnold at Salisbury Snooker Club.
Arnold (Salisbury) took the third frame on a re-spotted black, not for the first time this season, and the fifth on the black.
“It was a decent contest of reasonable quality,” said Arnold.
Reflecting on his third 3-2 victory, Carroll said: “It was a long, hard battle but an enjoyable match. I managed to score a few more when it mattered.”
Meanwhile, Alex Thorn (Shrewton) described his 4-1 defeat by Gary Hart (Porton) as “particularly galling”.
Thorn, 37, who cleared the last three colours to take the first frame, added: “There was little I could do about it. Gary’s long and pressure potting was almost faultless. I can only remember him missing a couple.”
Nick Bevan (Salisbury), still searching for his first win, took a 1-0 lead against Trevor Pittman (Salisbury) with a 27 break.
Pittman rallied to win two close frames and then cruised to a 4-1 victory.
“I lost my way and Trevor took control,” admitted Bevan.
Mani Davani (Salisbury), also bidding to break his duck, lost his first frame against Stuart Dreyer (Salisbury) on the black but levelled in the next.
Dreyer wrapped up a 4-1 win with runs of 30 and 18.
Results (breaks): Nick Bevan 1 Trevor Pittman (31) 4, Alex Thorn 1 Gary Hart 4, Neil Carroll 3 Richard Arnold 2, Paul Burt 1 Steve Ashton 4, Mani Davani 1 Stuart Dreyer (30) 4. Re-arranged games: Neil Carroll (30) 3 Nick Bevan (35) 2, John Hunter (48) 5 Paul Burt 0.
Highest break: John Hunter 53.&