Ashton fires warning shot
SALISBURY cueman Steve Ashton fired a warning shot across defending champion John Hunter’s bow by storming to the top of the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League.
Helped by breaks of 32 and 40, Ashton swept to a 4-0 lead over Trevor Pittman at Salisbury Snooker Club.
Pittman, also from Salisbury, picked up a consolation frame on the pink.
Hunter’s match against Paul Burt was one of two postponements.
Meanwhile, two old friends enjoyed “a good old scrap”.
Richard Arnold (Salisbury) edged Alex Thorn (Shrewton) 3-2.
The practice partners shared the first two fluent frames.
Arnold took a tight and scratchy third frame on a re-spotted black but was left chasing two snookers on the pink in the next.
After an epic blue-ball battle in the decider, Arnold sunk a long pink to collect the win bonus.
“It couldn’t really have been much closer,” said Thorn.
There were words of comfort for Mani Davani (Salisbury) after his third straight defeat.
Gary Hart (Porton), who won 5-0, said: “It was hard work with all the frames very scrappy.
“Mani laid some excellent snookers and was potting some great, long colours too.”
Results: Richard Arnold 3 Alex Thorn 2, Gary Hart 5 Mani Davani 0, Neil Carroll P Nick Bevan P, Steve Ashton 4 Trevor Pittman 1, John Hunter P Paul Burt P.