Hunter nicks Seniors title on final pink
A TOUCH of the old quick, quick, slow helped John Hunter pip Nick Birney for the Cuestars South of England Seniors (40+) Tour rankings title.
In a repeat of the fifth-leg final, Hunter defeated Southampton’s Wayne Muddiman 2-1 at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury, to nick top spot by just five points.
The 46-year-old from Andover missed the first leg at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, failed to qualify from the group stages in Fareham in January and then won in Newbury, Swindon, Fareham and now Newbury again.
Hunter stormed past Vince Elphick (Hassocks Men’s Club, West Sussex) 2-0 in double quick time in the semi-finals.
He opened with a 40 break, Elphick replied with a 45 and Hunter cleared with 38. And in the second frame, Hunter compiled an 89 from Elphick’s break off.
“The match couldn’t have lasted half an hour,” he declared.
However, Hunter added: “In the final against Wayne Muddiman it was a very different encounter with Wayne choosing a low-risk approach with the deciding frame lasting the best part of an hour.
“I just managed to win it on the pink after trailing Wayne for nearly all of the deciding frame.”
Birney’s bid for glory ended in a 2-1 semi-final defeat by third-placed Muddiman.
BREAKS
John Hunter: 89, 53, 49.
Nick Birney: 53, 42.
Vince Elphick: 45.
Nick Miles: 36.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, Vince Elphick (Hassocks Men’s Club, West Sussex); 2nd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Alan Grainger (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 4th, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon).
GROUP B: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading); 3rd, Wayne Hamilton (Hassocks Men’s Club, West Sussex); 4th, Gary Hart (Salisbury SC).
GROUP C: 1st, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central Club); 2nd, Terry Azor (Chandlers Ford Central Club); 3rd, Steve Tonks (Ashlett Club, Fawley); 4th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC).
GROUP D: 1st, Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 2nd, Neil Carroll (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, Fawley); 4th, Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
KNOCKOUT
QUARTER-FINALS (8 points, £10): Elphick beat Carroll 2-0, Hunter beat Azor 2-0, Muddiman beat Wallace 2-0, Birney beat Ashton 2-1.
SEMI-FINALS (12 points, £15): Hunter beat Elphick 2-0, Muddiman beat Birney 2-1.
FINAL (25/18 points, £60/£30): Hunter beat Muddiman 2-1.