Early leader Ford produces monster break on Seniors Tour

MATT Ford was the last man standing from a massive 42-strong field for the opening leg of the Cuestars Seniors Tour in Newbury.

And the 49-year-old from Bracknell recorded the second highest break in the 15-year history of the over-40’s circuit.

Due to the latest of the hour at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, the finalists agreed to split the £240 prize pot.

Ford beat defending champion Paul Davis (Wareham) 2-1 in a best-of-three black-ball game for the ranking points.

Earlier, the 2020/21 champion made a 138 total clearance against Pinner-based David Moritz in the round-robin group stage. It lies second to Colin Norton’s 140 against Neil Carroll at the Ambassador Snooker Club, Poole, in 2011.

Adrian Morrisey and Shaun Rooney made useful starts to the 2024/25 campaign by reaching the last-four of the event that was sponsored by the host club.

The Crucible, Newbury, will also host the second leg of nine on Sunday, October 20.

To find out about The Crucible, visit cruciblesports.co.uk/newbury/.

BREAKS

Matt Ford: 138, 56.
Anthony Cutler: 75.
Tim Cosens: 61.
Sean Rooney: 59.
Paul Davis: 57, 42.
Daryl Sims: 57.
Matt Callow: 55, 49, 47.
Jason Pusser: 50, 42.
Mark Thomas: 46.
Shane Hellyer: 40.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS

GROUP A: 1st, Adrian Morrisey; 2nd, Alex Kirchin (Dunstable SC); 3rd, Paul Morrison; 4th, Graham Leech (Crucible, Newbury).

GROUP B: 1st, Shaun Rooney (Ilminster Bowling & Tennis Club); 2nd, Mark Thomas (Shots, Watford); 3rd; Dean Sycamore (Chichester City Club); 4th, David Stockwell (Salisbury SC).

GROUP C: 1st, Matt Ford (Sunninghill Comrades Club); 2nd, Martin Wallace (Crucible, Newbury); 3rd, David Moritz (Shots, Watford); 4th, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC).

GROUP D: 1st; Paul Davis (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Tim Cosens (Crowborough Constitutional Club); 3rd, Anthony Cutler; 4th, Peter Ebbins (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).

GROUP E: 1st, Franco Carchedi (Jesters, Swindon); 2nd, Alex Greenham (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Daryl Sims (Woking SC); 4th, Steve Read (Chandlers Ford SC).

GROUP F: 1st Matt Callow (Chichester City Club); 2nd, Kevin Collins (Jesters, Swindon); 3rd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 4th, Oliver Davidson (Acton SC).

GROUP G: 1st, Shane Hellyer (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Mark Prescott (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Kieran O’Donovan (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, Neil Winkworth (Crucible, Newbury).

GROUP H: 1st, Justin Eggins (Chichester City Club); 2nd, Jimmy Johnson (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Neil Jefferis (Ightham Club); 4th, Sean Reeves (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).

GROUP I: 1st, Shane Hatfield (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC); 3rd, David Beakhouse (Trinity Snooker Club, Henley); 4th, George Apperley (Crucible, Newbury); 5th, Andy Savage.

GROUP J: 1st, Jason Pusser (St James Institute, Bournemouth); 2nd, Kevin Palmer (Frames, Coulsdon); 3rd, Darren Johnson (Petersfield Bowls & Snooker Club); 4th, Tim Poston; 5th, Gareth Samuel (Lytchett & Upton Royal British Legion).

KNOCKOUT RESULTS (SIX REDS)

LAST-16 (10 points): Adrian Morrisey 2-0 Kevin Palmer, Justin Eggins 2-0 Ray Grall, Franco Carchedi 1-2 Mark Prescott, Paul Davis 2-0 Shane Hatfield, Matt Ford 2-0 Mark Thomas, Matt Callow 0-2 Alex Kirchin, Shane Hellyer 0-2 Jason Pusser, Shaun Rooney 2-0 Tim Cosens.

QUARTER-FINALS (12 pts, £20): Adrian Morrisey 2-0 Justin Eggins, Mark Prescott 1-2 Paul Davis, Matt Ford 2-0 Alex Kirchin, Jason Pusser 1-2 Shaun Rooney.

SEMI-FINALS (15 pts, £50): Paul Davis 2-1 Adrian Morrisey, Matt Ford 2-0 Shaun Rooney.

FINAL (25/18 pts, £120/£120): Matt Ford 2-1 Paul Davis.

By Tim Dunkley

Picture: Matt Ford (left) and Paul Davis