Hat-trick hero Hunter

But the 46-year-old’s third straight success in the fifth leg at Fareham Snooker Club fired a warning shot across the bow of long-term rankings leader Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe).

The man who has furthered the careers of so many young players in the south of England, since founding the Cuestars organisation 18 years ago, is now enjoying success himself.

A 2-1 victory over Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central Club) in the final helped second-placed Hunter close the gap to just eight points with one event left at his home club in Salisbury next month.

“I didn’t play well,” he insisted. “And I relied on plenty of luck.”

Birney, who won’t be taken in by this, was beaten 2-0 by Hunter in the group stages and knocked out by the same score by Muddiman in the quarter-finals.

Still searching for a first tournament win in his debut season, Muddiman took out Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading) 2-1 in the last-four but lost in the final for a second time – and at the same club.

Wallace had seen off Group C winner Gary Hart (Salisbury) 2-0 in the previous round.

The frame Hunter lost in the final was the first he had dropped all day. In the knockout, he posted 2-0 victories over Neil Carroll and Steve Ashton, who are both based at Salisbury SC and both compete alongside Hunter in the South Wilts Snooker League.

It was Ashton’s best ever performance on the Seniors Tour. The 49-year-old reached his first semi-final after accounting for Steve Tonks (Ashlett Club, Fawley) 2-0.

The sixth and final leg, before the last-16 play-off, is on Sunday, May 13, at Salisbury Snooker Club.

Nick Birney: 60

GROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 3rd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 4th, Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).

GROUP B: 1st, Steve Tonks (Ashlett Club, Fawley); 2nd, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading); 3rd, Vince Elphick (Hassocks Men’s Club, West Sussex); 4th, Alan Childs (Salisbury SC).

GROUP C: 1st, Gary Hart (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, Fawley); 4th, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon).

GROUP D: 1st, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central Club); 2nd, Neil Carroll (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Iain Smith (Portsmouth); 4th, Michael Jurd (Fareham SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (8 points, £10): Hunter beat Carroll 2-0, Ashton beat Tonks 2-0, Wallace beat Hart 2-0, Muddiman beat Birney 2-0.

SEMI-FINALS (12 points, £15): Hunter beat Ashton 2-0, Muddiman beat Wallace 2-1.

FINAL (25/18 points, £60/£30): Hunter beat Muddiman 2-1.