Swindon victory clinches second place for Muddiman

WAYNE Muddiman has picked up his second winner’s trophy on the Cuestars South of England Seniors (40+) Tour this season.

Victory in the sixth and final leg at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, means Muddiman will be second seed at the Championship play-off at Fareham Snooker Club on May 19.

The West End cueman, who turns out for Southampton’s Super League champions Chandlers Ford Central Club A, won in Newbury in February and defeated rankings winner John Hunter 1-0 in the Swindon final.

He had gone into the final event joint second with Nick Birney (High Wycombe).

Muddiman, who had lost to Hunter in the group stages, accounted for Martin Wallace (Reading) 2-0 in the semi-finals.

Totton Recreation Club B skipper Steve Allen’s bid for a first appearance in a final ended in a 2-1 last-four defeat by Hunter.

Hunter, who is based at Salisbury Snooker Club but lives in Andover, has topped the rankings for the second year running and is number one seed for the Championship play-off.

The Seniors Tour welcomed new member Stephen Hills, who helps run the Kent County Billiards & Snooker Association.

Hills had a mountain to climb after being ‘rewarded’ for his long trip by drawing the two finalists in his round-robin group.

TOP 16 QUALIFERS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF

John Hunter (Salisbury SC), Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central), Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe), Steve Allen (Totton Recreation Club), Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading), Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon), Steve Tonks (Ashlett Club, Fawley), Neil Carroll (Chandler’s Ford SC), Gary Hart (Salisbury SC), Trevor Thorn (Basingstoke Conservative Club), Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, Fawley), Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC), Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC), Paul Burt (Salisbury SC), David Mumford (Chandler’s Ford SC), Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon).

BREAKS

John Hunter: 62, 52, 50.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS

GROUP A: 1st, Steve Allen (Totton Recreation Club); 2nd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Trevor Thorn (Basingstoke Cons); 4th, Dharmendra Patel (Crucible, Newbury); 5th, Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, Fawley).

GROUP B: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central); 3rd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 4th, Stephen Hills (Kent).

GROUP C: 1st, Neil Herd (Player’s, Westbury); 2nd, Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 3rd, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 4th, Neil Carroll (Chandler’s Ford SC).

GROUP D: 1st, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading); 2nd, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon); 3rd, Gary Hart (Salisbury SC); 4th, Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon).

KNOCKOUT

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points, £10): Allen beat Thomas 2-0, Hunter beat Birney 2-1, Muddiman beat Herd 2-0, Wallace beat Ashton 2-0.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points, £20): Hunter beat Allen 2-1, Muddiman beat Wallace 2-0.

FINAL (25/18 points, £60/£30): Muddiman beat Hunter 1-0.