Pittman pips Arnold
SALISBURY cueman Trevor Pittman has pipped Richard Arnold for runners-up spot in the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League.
Pittman’s 3-2 defeat by Gary Hart (Porton) in the last round of matches at Salisbury Snooker Club was enough to hold off a final week charge by Richard Arnold – by just one frame.
Second-to-bottom Hart was a mere spectator as Pittman stroked in a 38 break for a 2-0 lead.
“I was almost resigned to getting a good thrashing as Trevor wasn’t missing much up to that point,” he said.
“But he started to miss a couple and I found a bit of confidence and managed to take the last three frames.
“I was very happy with the win after a series of disappointing results.”
Arnold, also from Salisbury, convincingly saw off Hart 4-1 in a re-arranged game.
However, needing any victory against club-mate Stuart Dreyer for second spot, he agonisingly fell one frame short of second spot.
Trailing 2-0, Arnold levelled with three good pots after being let off the hook. Dreyer regrouped to take the decider.
Arnold said Dreyer “deserved” the win and added: “Stuart played the more solid snooker to take the first two close frames.”
Steve Ashton (Shrewton) finished fourth after consigning Alex Thorn (Shrewton) to the foot of the table.
Ashton, who had led 2-0, compiled a 32 in the fifth-frame decider and ended Thorn’s spirited comeback on the blue.
Thorn said: “For the first two frames, my cue felt like an alien craft, but after having a serious word with myself I got my act together. It was a good match.”
In another re-arranged match, Thorn again fought back from 2-0 down and lost the fifth on the colours.
Dreyer, who hauled himself off the bottom of the table, led 2-0 with runs of 37, 25 and 20. Thorn pulled one back with a superb 32 clearance and levelled on the pink.
Thorn said: “Results-wise, it’s a shame that I’m not higher up the board. I’ve been on the end of some close shaves.
“In some ways I feel I’ve almost played better in the 3-2 defeats. Coming back from 2-0 down takes some doing in best-of-fives.”
Results: Alex Thorn 2 Steve Ashton 3, Richard Arnold 2 Stuart Dreyer 3, Trevor Pittman 2 Gary Hart 3, James Bolton P John Hunter P, Neil Carroll 3 Jeremy Dawson 2, Gary Hart 1 Richard Arnold 4, Stuart Dreyer 3 Alex Thorn 2.