Hunter’s South Wilts lead cut to nine points

DEFENDING champion John Hunter dropped only his third frame of the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League season in a 4-1 victory over Neil Herd.

Herd won the opener at Salisbury Snooker Club but was kicking himself after not securing the last frame.

Hunter, who led 3-1 following breaks of 47 and 76, trailed by 41 points with one red left in the fifth.

Herd failed to escape from a snooker, gave a free ball and the league leader cleared the table to win on the black.

Meanwhile, Richard Arnold edged the impressive Lee Stagg 3-2.

Stagg started the stronger and raced to a 2-0 lead with breaks of 36 and a very solid 50.

Arnold then started to nibble away at his opponent’s ankles and just managed to convert frames three and four to set up a decider.

Stagg struggled to maintain the momentum of the first two frames and Arnold held his nerve to clear green to pink.

Arnold said: “It was something of a steal as Lee certainly played the better snooker.”

Neil Carroll followed up his two opening defeats with two 4-1 wins, against Paul Burt (Britford) and Stagg.

And Herd had three 30-plus breaks in a 4-1 victory over David Rice, who also lost 5-0 to his brother, Anthony.

Results: Richard Arnold 3-2 Lee Stagg, Neil Carroll 4-1 Paul Burt, Neil Herd 1-4 John Hunter, David Rice 1-4 Neil Herd, David Rice 0-5 Anthony Rice, Neil Carroll 4-1 Lee Stagg, Neil Carroll P-P Steve Ashton.

Highest break: John Hunter 76

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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)