Hunter back on top on Seniors Tour

JOHN Hunter has taken over top spot in the Cuestars Seniors (40+) Tour rankings after a second successive tournament win.

The 56-year-old from Andover survived a “wobbly start” to collect maximum points in the sixth leg at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon.

Hunter defeated first-time finalist Robert Toulouse (Camberley) 2-0 to claim the £80 prize in the event sponsored by SnookerHub.

He said: “After a wobbly start, when I lost to John Monckton in the group stages, I played well. All the practice is paying off.”

The five-time champion overcame Neil Craycraft (Didcot) 2-1 in the last-four. Craycraft hadn’t dropped a single frame up to that point.

The win of the day belonged to Toulouse who beat debutant Mitch Wade (Chandlers Ford) in the semi-finals on a re-spotted black in the third-frame decider.

Wade, who recently turned 40, entered his last Cuestars tournament seven years ago.

Martin Wallace (Wokingham) dropped to second place after winning two of his three group-stage matches but missing out on qualifying for the knockout by one frame.

Woking Snooker Centre hosts the seventh leg of eight on Sunday, May 22.

To find out about amateur snooker tournaments, visit www.snookerhub.co.uk.

BREAKS

Neil Craycraft: 76, 58, 53, 53.
John Hunter: 57, 57, 50, 47, 40.
Dan Hammond: 47.
Steve Allen: 45.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS

GROUP A: 1st, Darren Johnson (Petersfield Bowls & Snooker Club); 2nd, Mitch Wade (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Martin Wallace (Crucible, Newbury); 4th, Stephen Hills (Northfleet Traders Club, Gravesend).

GROUP B: 1st, Neil Craycraft (Oracle SC, Abingdon); 2nd, Steve Allen (Totton Rec); 3rd, Kevin Collins (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Graham Leech (Crucible, Newbury).

GROUP C: 1st, Robert Toulouse (Sovereign SC, Farnborough); 2nd, Dan Hammond (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon).

GROUP D: 1st, John Monckton (Top Q Club, Gloucester); 2nd, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Alex Greenham (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Peter Chin (Crucible, Newbury).

KNOCKOUT RESULTS

QUARTER-FINALS (12 pts): Craycraft 2-0 Hammond, Toulouse 2-0 Allen, Hunter 2-0 Johnson, Wade 2-0 Monckton.

SEMI-FINALS (15 pts, £20): Hunter 2-1 Craycraft, Toulouse 2-1 Wade.

FINAL (25/18 pts, £80/£40): Hunter 2-0 Toulouse.

Picture: Bob Toulouse (left) and John Hunter