Last points for Ashton?

STEVE Ashton fears he may have picked up his last points of the 2015/16 Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League season.

The 53-year-old clawed back a two-frame deficit to see off Richard Arnold 3-2 in his penultimate match at Salisbury Snooker Club.

Arnold said: “Steve managed to get a foothold in the match in the third frame and then didn’t look.”

Ashton, who remains fourth from bottom, said he “needed the points” because his last fixture is against nine-time champion John Hunter.

Elsewhere, Trevor Pittman opened with a 47 break and took the first three frames to virtually end the title hopes of Simon Peacock (Winterbourne Gunner). The Tornado picked up the last two.

If Ashton or Neil Carroll (Rownhams) could take frames off Hunter (Andover) in the league leader’s final two matches, the door would be open for second-placed Richard Swaffield, who is three points adrift – which equates to three frames – and has to play Carroll and Trevor Pittman.

Anthony Rice is certain to be crowned the highest placed under-21 player – unless the 19-year-old from Fordingbridge breaks his collarbone or gets thrown out of the league.

Results: Richard Arnold 2 Steve Ashton 3, Trevor Pittman 3 Simon Peacock 2.

Remaining fixtures: Neil Carroll v John Hunter, David Rice v Anthony Rice, Richard Swaffield v Neil Carroll, John Hunter v Steve Ashton, Anthony Rice v Richard Arnold, Simon

Peacock v Paul Burt, Richard Swaffield v Trevor Pittman.

Report by Tim Dunkley