Ten-year unbeaten run ended
A TEENAGER from Fordingbridge has ended nine-time champion John Hunter’s ten-year unbeaten run in the Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League.
Anthony Rice (pictured), who has been practising with Hunter in a bid to improve his matchplay, pulled off an historic 3-2 victory at Salisbury Snooker Club.
The 18-year-old said: “John is a class player and I knew I had to play a good game to be in with a chance. I’m delighted to have ended his run.
“My tactical game was as good as I could have hoped for and this was strong enough to put him in trouble at the right times.”
But he added: “This was only one win and there is still a long way to go in the league.”
Hunter said: “He played fantastic and thoroughly deserved his win. It’s normal for Anthony to pot well but what impressed me most was the very high level of his safety play and his response to pressure.”
Reflecting on his record run, the 49-year-old from Andover said: “Before losing to Anthony, I had lost just once in the South Wilts League. That was to Nathan Williams on April 7, 2005. He beat me 3-2 off handicaps.
“From the 2005/06 season onwards the league has been played off scratch and until the match with Anthony I was undefeated.
“So big congratulations to Anthony but I’ll still be trying like mad to keep my South Wilts title.”
Elsewhere, Richard Swaffield (Salisbury) took over top spot following a 5-0 drubbing of David Rice (Fordingbridge).
Swaffield, who compiled a 52 break, said: “David struggled to score which gave me quite a few chances.”
Rice explained: “When I got to the table, it felt like I had never picked up a cue before. Everything I tried turned out badly wrong.”
Simon Peacock (Winterbourne Gunner) is joint second with Anthony Rice, one point behind Swaffield, after seeing off Richard Arnold (Salisbury) 4-1. Arnold had taken the lead with a run of 32.
“The match was very close despite the scoreline,” insisted Peacock.
Steve Ashton (Salisbury) “managed to crawl over the line” by potting the pink in the deciding frame of a 3-2 victory over Neil Herd (Frome), who chalked up breaks of 55 and 39.
Trevor Pittman (Salisbury) edged bottom-placed Callum McDonald (Bishopdown) 3-2 and Neil Carroll (Rownhams) defeated Paul Burt (Britford) by the same score.
Results: Trevor Pittman 3 Callum McDonald 2, Neil Carroll 3 Paul Burt 2, Neil Herd 2 Steve Ashton 3, David Rice 0 Richard Swaffield 5, Simon Peacock 4 Richard Arnold 1, Anthony Rice 3 John Hunter 2.
Report by Tim Dunkley