Karl wins on Masters return

KARL Townsend has made a winning return to the Cuestars Masters Tour.

The Northolt cueist beat rankings leader John Hunter 2-0 in the final of the fourth leg of the Snooker Hub-sponsored midweek series for players aged 55 and over at Salisbury Snooker Club.

Townsend, who won three events last season, defeated Mark Burrell (Swindon) 2-0 in the last-four. It was the furthest that Burrell had progressed during this campaign.

The result ended Hunter’s run of three tournaments wins on the bounce.

The good turnout of 15 players enjoyed the improved playing conditions with new LED table lights and returned 13 breaks of more than 40. Dennis Tristram (near Rickmansworth) took the honours with a 59.

Home player Howard McKenzie achieved some notable wins on his way to the last-four on his Masters debut.

The Crucible Sports & Social Cub, Newbury, hosts the fifth leg of nine on Wednesday, January 10.

To find out more the amateur game, visit snookerhub.co.uk. For information about Salisbury SC, go to https://www.facebook.com/salisburysnookerclub.

BREAKS

Dennis Tristram: 59.
Karl Townsend: 54, 53, 41.
John Hunter: 52, 48, 48, 42.
Mark Thomas: 50, 43.
Howard McKenzie: 48.
Ray Grall: 46.
Neil Carroll: 43.

RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Dennis Tristram (Shots, Watford); 3rd, Steve Allen (Totton Rec); 4th, Trevor Thorn (Basingstoke Cons); 5th, Nick Miles (Romsey Comrades).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Karl Townsend (Rickmansworth RBL); 2nd, Phil Butler (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford); 4th, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC); 5th, Malcolm Slark (Salisbury SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Mark Burrell (Jesters, Swindon); 2nd, Howard McKenzie (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Kevin Morris (Woking SC); 5th, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (10 pts): Hunter 2-1 Thomas, McKenzie 2-0 Butler, Townsend 2-0 Carroll, Burrell 2-0 Tristram.

SEMI-FINALS (£20, 15 pts): Hunter 2-0 McKenzie, Townsend 2-0 Burrell.

FINAL (£70/£40, 25/18 pts): Townsend 2-0 Hunter.