Rice praises honest McDonald
DAVID Rice paid tribute to his young opponent’s honesty after claiming a first victory in his debut season in the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League.
The 21-year-old from Fordingbridge fought back from 2-1 down to beat Callum McDonald, 17, 3-2 at Salisbury Snooker Club
“It was a scrappy match,” said Rice. “I was quite nervous as I was still waiting for my first win.
“I applaud Callum for his honesty on several occasions when he fouled.”
Meanwhile, unbeaten Richard Swaffield took over top spot following two victories.
The 43-year-old missed a mid-distance yellow on a run of 77 in the first frame of a 5-0 win against Richard Arnold – and fired in a 110 in a friendly after the match.
“It was a shame it wasn’t a few frames earlier,” he said.
He then took a one-point lead over defending champion John Hunter by seeing off Steve Ashton 4-1.
Swaffield – who, as previously reported, gave five-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan a run for his money in an exhibition in Newbury earlier this month – came from behind to take the first frame on the black, lost the second on the blue, clawed back a 42-point deficit in the third and wrapped up the last two with breaks of 47 and 55.
Ashton, who had pulled level in the fifth with runs of 38 and 16 only for his opponent to clear the last red and the colours to the pink, said: “We both played well.
“I enjoyed the match although I was a bit disappointed with only getting one frame.”
Paul Burt (Britford) was beaten 3-2 by Trevor Pittman and has now lost all four matches this season by that scoreline.
Neil Carroll (Rownhams) compiled a 44 break in his 4-1 win over bottom-of-the-table Richard Arnold.
Simon ‘The Tornado’ Peacock (Winterbourne Gunner) was “delighted” to maintain his unbeaten start to the season by edging Anthony Rice (Fordingbridge) 3-2 in a 75-minute match.
Rice pulled back a 2-0 deficit with breaks of 47 and 35 but conceded the fifth frame with one red left after Peacock had fired in a 46.
“He deserved the win,” said Rice, 18, who dropped from joint first to joint fourth.
“It hurts to lose that one as I had a great start to the season and was beginning to feel optimistic. To do well in this league, you have to win matches like that.”
And nine-time champion Hunter (Andover) continued his personal break-building crusade with efforts of 46, 49, 53, 84 and 48 in his 5-0 whitewash of Neil Herd (Frome).
Herd said: “I have no complaints. John didn’t miss many long balls and when he got in he was clinical.”
Results: Simon Peacock 3 Anthony Rice 2, Trevor Pittman 3 Paul Burt 2, David Rice 3 Callum McDonald 2, Neil Herd 0 John Hunter 5, Neil Carroll 4 Richard Arnold 1, Steve Ashton 1 Richard Swaffield 4, Richard Swaffield 5 Richard Arnold 0.
Report by Tim Dunkley