Another ton in the South Wilts League

IT WAS a tale of two centuries in the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League.

One helped John Hunter (pictured) edge closer to a tenth title and the other in a practice match shocked David Rice so much that he “played awful” the next day.

Hunter (Andover) has a three-point lead over Richard Swaffield with two to play after blitzing Richard Arnold 5-0 at Salisbury Snooker Club

The 50-year-old admitted to “good fortune” in the first frame. A fluked red helped build a decent lead and a fluked red out of a snooker ended the hopes of Arnold, who had extracted the required penalty points to be in with a chance of snatching the opener.

But Hunter then played faultless snooker and chalked up breaks of 103, 67, 60 and 51 in the next four frames.

Meanwhile, the day after making his first century in a practice match, David Rice was beaten 4-1 by Steve Ashton – who also defeated Paul Burt (Britford) by the same score in a re-arranged game.

“I played awful,” said the 21-year-old from Fordingbridge, “I was still shocked at what I had done the previous night.”

But he added: “Steve was the better player.”

And David’s 19-year-old brother Anthony compiled runs of 63, 50 and 44 in a 5-0 whitewash of Burt.

Now third in the league, Rice said: “I scored well and didn’t give Paul too many chances.

“It’s a shame a few slip-ups have probably cost me a chance at winning this season as I have had a couple of good results from my last few fixtures.”

Results: Steve Ashton 4 Paul Burt 1, John Hunter 5 Richard Arnold 0, Steve Ashton 4 David Rice 1, Anthony Rice 5 Paul Burt 0, Richard Swaffield P Neil Carroll P.

Report by Tim Dunkley