Hunter battles to seventh Masters success

JOHN Hunter was forced to battle hard to claim his seventh successive victory on the midweek Cuestars Masters (55+) Tour.

The 56-year-old from Andover beat Colin Norton (Gosport) 2-0 in the final of the SnookerHub-sponsored event at Salisbury Snooker Club.

Hunter pinched the first frame with a 35 clearance from 34 behind and secured the second on the blue following a long tactical scrap.

“We had a nice war in the final,” he admitted.

But the reigning champion reckons his toughest test of the opening leg came in his 2-1 quarter-final victory over Phil Butler (Bournemouth).

Both Butler and Norton were making their first appearances on the tour, which has been extended this season to eight events at four different clubs.

Hunter recorded the day’s highest break of 90 against Neil Carroll (Southampton) in the last-four.

Woking Snooker Centre hosts the second leg of eight on Wednesday, October 12.

To find out more the amateur game, visit snookerhub.co.uk.

BREAKS

John Hunter: 90, 59, 40; Colin Norton: 59, 45, 41, 40; Steve Ashton: 56.

RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Adrian Walsh (Fareham SC); 3rd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 4th, David Stewart (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Steve Allen (Totton Rec); 2nd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Phil Butler (Bournemouth Constitutional Club); 4th, Ray Grall (Hayes WMC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Colin Norton (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Andy Darken (Feltham Constitutional Club); 4th, Stephen Hills (Northfleet Traders Club, Gravesend).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Hunter 2-1 Butler, Carroll 2-1 Ashton, Allen 2-0 Darken, Norton 2-0 Walsh.

SEMI-FINALS (£15, 15 pts): Hunter 2-0 Carroll, Norton 2-0 Allen.

FINAL (£60/£30, 25/18 pts): Hunter 2-0 Norton.

Picture: John Hunter (right) and Colin Norton.