Lilly claims seventh Cuestars win

FORMER World Masters champion Dharminder Lilly has won his seventh Cuestars tournament since joining the circuit 18 months ago.

The 48-year-old from Fareham defeated rankings leader Wayne Townsend (Northolt) to clinch the fifth leg of the Seniors (40+) Tour.

Another massive entry of 36 for the event sponsored by The Roofing Division resulted in a long day at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

Due to the lateness of the hour, Lilly despatched Townsend in double-quick time after the pair agreed to split the £240 prize pot and play one frame for the ranking points.

Earlier, Jason Pusser (Bournemouth) knocked in the third highest break in the 12-year history of the Seniors Tour.

His run of 130 against Mark Hutchinson (Orpington) in the round-robin group stage was just ten points short of the 140 recorded by Colin Norton in Poole in 2011. In second place is John Hunter’s 134 made in Swindon in 2020.

Hats off to Steve Allen for an impressive performance. The 64-year-old from Southampton fought back from losing his first two matches to qualify for the knockout. His fine run ended in a 2-0 defeat by Lilly in the last-four.

Norton (Gosport) edged an extremely close match of the day 2-1 in his last-16 encounter with Hunter (Andover). Hunter made an 84 and Norton contributed a 50.

Townsend, Hunter, Pusser, Lilly, Paul Davis (Wareham), David Moritz (Pinner) and Gareth Howard (Winchester) were all undefeated in their groups.

The attendances on the Seniors Tour are at an all-time high. A total of 82 different players have competed in the first five legs. And the standard is going through the roof. In this tournament, 38 breaks of 40 or more were recorded.

Organisers thanked Ray Cooper and his team at Chandlers Ford SC for being brilliant hosts.

Find out more about Southampton-based roofing specialists, The Roofing Division, at www.theroofingdivision.com.

Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, hosts the sixth leg of nine on Sunday, February 26.

BREAKS

Jason Pusser: 130, 54, 54, 43.
Paul Davis: 86, 81, 60, 41.
John Hunter: 84.
Dharminder Lilly: 83, 49, 48, 43, 43, 41.
Wayne Townsend: 74, 67, 62, 51, 42.
Justin Eggins: 61.
David Moritz: 59, 56, 54.
Mark Hutchinson: 55, 47.
Paul Morrison: 55.
Gareth Howard: 54.
Terry Burke: 53.
Colin Norton: 50, 40.
Carl Groves: 50.
Nick Birney: 49.
Stephen Clarence: 43.
Steve Allen: 42.
Martin Wallace: 41.
Dean Sycamore: 40.
Neil Carroll: 40.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS

GROUP A: 1st, Wayne Townsend (Hayes WMC); 2nd, Colin Norton (Stoke SC, Gosport); 3rd, Terry Burke (Frames, Coulsdon); 4th, Steve Boterhoek (Park Gate RBL).

GROUP B: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Neil Herd (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Nick Miles (Romsey Comrades); 4th, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC).

GROUP C: 1st, Jason Pusser (St James Institute, Bournemouth); 2nd, Mark Hutchinson (Sidcup & Foots Cray United Services Club); 3rd, Graham Leech (Crucible, Newbury); 4th, Tony Wheeler (Frames, Coulsdon).

GROUP D: 1st, Paul Davis (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Dean Sycamore (Chichester City Club); 3rd, Darren Johnson (Petersfield Bowls & Snooker Club); 4th, Carl Groves (Bournemouth); 5th, Paul Morrison (Staines Cons).

GROUP E: 1st, Martin Wallace (Crucible, Newbury); 2nd, Steve Allen (Totton Rec); 3rd, Mark Prescott (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Steve Wheatland (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Stephen Clarence (Stratford Sports Club.

GROUP F: 1st, David Moritz (Eastcote Billiards Club); 2nd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Justin Eggins (Chichester City Club); 4th, Brian Dobson (Stoke SC, Gosport); 5th, Peter Ebbins (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).

GROUP G: 1st, Dharminder Lilly (Stoke SC, Gosport); 2nd, Neil Jefferis (The Ightham Club, Kent); 3rd, Paul Lawrence (Park Gate RBL); 4th, Gavin Rogers (Branksome Conservative Club).

GROUP H: 1st, Gareth Howard (Winchester Club); 2nd, Nick Birney (Trinity SC, Henley); 3rd, Shane Hatfield (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central); 5th, Steve Read (Chandlers Ford SC).

KNOCKOUT RESULTS

LAST-16 (10 pts): Townsend 2-1 Herd, Jefferis 2-0 Howard, Wallace 2-0 Carroll, Davis 2-0 Hutchinson, Pusser 2-0 Sycamore, Allen 2-1 Moritz, Lilly 2-0 Birney, Norton 2-1 Hunter.

QUARTER-FINALS (12 pts, £15): Townsend 2-1 Jefferis, Davis 2-1 Wallace, Allen 2-1 Pusser, Lilly 2-1 Norton.

SEMI-FINALS (15 pts, £30): Townsend 2-0 Davis, Lilly 2-0 Allen.

FINAL (25/18 pts, £120/£120): Lilly 1-0 Townsend.

By Tim Dunkley and Chris Wyatt

Picture: Wayne Townsend (left) and Dharminder Lilly