A tale of two Steves
TOTTON Recreation Club stalwart Steve Allen “played brilliantly” en route to a “well deserved” first tournament win on the Cuestars South of England Seniors (40+) Snooker Tour.
The popular cueman (pictured left), who turns out for his club’s Super League side in the Southampton & District Social Clubs League, had never reached the final in his previous eight outings.
Undefeated in his three-man round-robin group in the fifth leg at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, Allen saw off Richard Arnold (Salisbury) and then defending champion John Hunter (Andover) in the last-four by the same 2-0 scorelines.
And he climbed to eighth place in the rankings after a 2-1 victory in the final that denied Steve Ashton (Salisbury) a first leg win.
It was the second time that sixth-placed Ashton, 51, had finished runner-up in his 14 tour events.
Paying tribute to the two Steves, Hunter, 47, said: “It was well deserved as they both played brilliantly.”
In the second semi, rankings leader Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central Club) lost 2-0 to Ashton but maintained his ten-point advantage over Hunter with two legs to play. Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading) is third.
Newcomer Chris Stocker (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot) made the quarter-finals but was knocked out 2-0 by Muddiman.
And Fawley accountant Nick Miles (Ashlett Club) qualified for the knockout for the first time at his 14th attempt but his run ended in a 2-0 defeat by Ashton.
The sixth leg of seven is at Salisbury Snooker Club, Swindon, on Sunday, March 16.
BREAKS
Steve Ashton: 61.
Wayne Muddiman: 54.
Steve Allen: 44.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, Steve Allen (Totton Recreation Club); 2nd, Chris Stocker (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot); 3rd, Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
GROUP B: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, Fawley); 3rd, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon).
GROUP C: 1st, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading); 3rd, Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Trevor Thorn (Basingstoke Conservative Club).
GROUP D: 1st, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central); 2nd, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Dharmendra Patel (Crucible, Newbury).
KNOCKOUT RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS (£5): Allen beat Arnold 2-0, Hunter beat Wallace 2-1, Ashton beat Miles 2-0, Muddiman beat Stocker 2-0.
SEMI-FINALS (£15): Allen beat Hunter 2-0, Ashton beat Muddiman 2-0.
FINAL (£50/£30): Allen beat Ashton 2-1.
Picture by Tim Dunkley