Townsend tops two tables

WAYNE Townsend has now won four of the five Cuestars snooker tournaments that he has entered this season.

The 43-year-old from Northolt, west London, continued his remarkable run with victory in the third leg of the Seniors Tour at Greenbaize Snooker Club, Bournemouth.

Another big turnout meant another long day so finalists Townsend and Jason Pusser (Bournemouth) agreed to split the £230 prize pot and play a one-frame shootout for the ranking points.

Townsend, who also leads the Championship Tour table, needed a snooker to overtake Pusser (Bournemouth) at the top of the over-40s standings.

Pusser was in control and looked the likely winner until a missed brown when 23 points ahead gave Townsend a glimmer of hope.

Townsend duly potted the brown, laid a tricky snooker on the blue that was narrowly missed by his opponent and cleared the last three colours for victory.

A total of 24 breaks of 40 or more were recorded by the 35-strong field in the event sponsored by Martin Rabbets Snooker and Pool Services.

John Hunter (Andover) took the honours with a well-made 80 in the deciding frame of his last-16 victory against Stuart Chapman (Wimborne).

Pusser drops to second place in the rankings. Nick Birney (Thame), who lost 2-0 to Pusser in the last-four, is third.

Organisers praised the players for a great day played in a great spirit.

Waterlooville Sports Bar hosts the fourth leg of nine on Sunday, December 18.

BREAKS

John Hunter: 80, 54.
Jason Pusser: 79.
Wayne Townsend: 71, 52, 45, 40.
James Height: 65, 52, 45.
Nick Birney: 63, 55, 55, 45, 43, 43.
Paul Lawrence: 52, 47, 44.
Neil Jefferis: 48.
Justin Eggins: 48.
Dan Hammond: 46.
Dominic Holmes: 46.
Paul Bailey: 41.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS

GROUP A: 1st, Jason Pusser (St James Institute, Bournemouth); 2nd, David Brock (Exeter SC); 3rd, Steve Boterhoek (Park Gate RBL); 4th, Stephen Hills (Northfleet Traders Club, Gravesend).

GROUP B: 1st, Paul Lawrence (Park Gate RBL); 2nd, Dean Sycamore (Chichester City Club); 3rd, Steve Allen (Totton Rec); 4th, Darren Johnson (Petersfield Bowls & Snooker Club).

GROUP C: 1st, Wayne Townsend (Hayes WMC); 2nd, James Height (Shepton Mallet); 3rd, Paul Davis (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Neil Herd (Salisbury SC).

GROUP D: 1st, Adam Nash (Churchills, Eastleigh); 2nd, Justin Eggins (Chichester City Club); 3rd, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC); 4th, Graham Leech (Crucible, Newbury).

GROUP E: 1st, Nick Birney (Trinity Snooker Club, Henley); 2nd, Dan Hammond (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Will Brown (Salisbury SC); 4th, Gareth Samuel (Lytchett & Upton RBL).

GROUP F: 1st, Dominic Holmes (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Martin Wallace (Crucible, Newbury); 3rd, Carl Davies (St James Institute, Bournemouth); 4th, Paul Bailey (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 5th, Peter Ebbins (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).

GROUP G: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Carl Groves (Bournemouth); 3rd, Alex Greenham (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Kieran O’Donovan (Frames, Coulsdon); 5th, Paul Pharro (Greenbaize, Bournemouth).

GROUP H; 1st, Neil Jefferis (The Ightham Club, Kent); 2nd, Stuart Chapman (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Shane Hatfield (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Dave Walker (Ilminster Bowling & Tennis Club).

KNOCKOUT RESULTS

LAST-16 (10 pts): Pusser 2-1 Sycamore, Jefferis 2-0 Groves, Birney 2-0 Wallace, Height 2-0 Nash, Townsend 2-0 Eggins, Hammond 2-1 Holmes, Hunter 2-1 Chapman, Lawrence 2-1 Brock.
QUARTER-FINALS (12 pts, £15): Pusser 2-1 Jefferis, Birney 2-0 Height, Townsend 2-0 Hammond, Hunter 2-1 Lawrence.

SEMI-FINALS (15 pts, £30): Pusser-2-0 Birney, Townsend 2-0 Hunter.

FINAL (25/18 pts, £150/£80): Townsend 1-0 Pusser.

By Tim Dunkley and Chris Wyatt

Picture: Wayne Townsend (left) and Jason Pusser