Lilly reverses Lee defeat to claim 14th Cuestars win

DHARMINDER Singh Lilly has claimed his 14th Cuestars tournament victory in a little over three years.

The 50-year-old from Fareham reversed a round-robin defeat to win the fourth leg of the Seniors (40+) Tour at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

Lilly, who pocketed £130 in prize money, had lost 2-0 to Lun Lee in the group stages but he knocked in breaks of 46 and 53 when he met the Orpington cueist again in the final of the Pitman Training-sponsored event.

His day turned during a high-quality last-four match. Defending rankings champion Paul Davis (Wareham) was in complete control of the opening frame and led by 34 points with one red left.

But a tricky snooker laid by Lilly gave him the opportunity to clear the table and secure a 1-0 lead from nowhere. This steal was the catalyst Lilly needed. He then played with his usual fluency and freedom for the rest of the competition.

Losing semi-finalists Davis and Alex Greenham (Poole) both eased through the group stages without dropping a frame.

Snookerdad David Thomson (Chandler’s Ford), who was making his Cuestars playing debut at his home club, finished runner-up in his group after winning three of his four matches by 2-1 scorelines before losing 2-0 to Neil Herd (Frome) in the last-16.

Mark Prescott (Bournemouth) recorded the day’s highest break of 68 in his final group match against Stuart Burton (Gosport).

Davis is now just one point below rankings leader Matt Ford (Bracknell). Prescott is six points further back in third place. Lilly climbs to fourth.

Tournament director Chris Wyatt thanked the ladies at Chandlers Ford SC for looking after everybody all day and added that the new offering of toasties certainly got the thumbs up from the players.

Salisbury Snooker Club hosts the fifth leg of nine on Sunday, January 19.

For more information about the event sponsor, go to www.pitman-training.com.

BREAKS

Mark Prescott: 68, 49.
Paul Davis: 67, 42.
Neil Carroll: 60.
Dharminder Lilly: 55, 53, 50, 49, 48, 46, 43.
Anthony Cutler: 54, 54.
Jason Pusser: 54, 44.
Matt Callow: 41.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS

GROUP A: 1st, Paul Davis (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Gareth Howard (Winchester Club); 3rd, Daryl Sims (Woking SC); 4th, Gareth Samuel (Lytchett & Upton RBL).

GROUP B: 1st, Dean Sycamore (Chichester City Club); 2nd, Mark Prescott (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd; Stuart Burton (Stoke SC, Gosport); 4th, John Buckley (Chandlers Ford SC).

GROUP C: 1st, Lun Lee (Orpington); 2nd, Dharminder Singh Lilly (Stoke SC, Gosport); 3rd, Alex Kirchin (Dunstable SC); 4th, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC).

GROUP D: 1st; Anthony Cutler (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Shane Hellyer (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Steve Wheatland (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Justin Eggins (Chichester City Club).

GROUP E: 1st, Jason Pusser (St James Institute, Bournemouth); 2nd, Matt Callow (Chichester City Club); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Darren Johnson (Petersfield Bowls & Snooker Club).

GROUP F: 1st; Martin Wallace (Crucible, Newbury); 2nd, Neil Herd (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Andy Darken (Feltham Constitutional Club); 4th, Peter Ebbins (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).

GROUP G: 1st, Alex Greenham (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, David Thomson (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Shane Hatfield (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Steve Read (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Brian Dobson (Stoke SC, Gosport).

KNOCKOUT RESULTS

LAST-16 (10 points): Davis 2-0 Hatfield, Herd 2-0 Thomson, Prescott 2-0 Pusser, Lilly 2-1 Cutler, Lee 2-0 Hellyer, Wallace 2-1 Callow, Greenham 2-0 Kirchin, Sycamore 2-0 Howard.

QUARTER-FINALS (12 pts, £10): Davis 2-1 Herd, Prescott 0-2 Lilly, Lee 2-1 Wallace, Greenham 2-0 Sycamore.

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

FINAL (25/18 pts, £130/£60): Lilly 2-0 Lee.

By Tim Dunkley and Chris Wyatt