JOHN Hunter avenged his earlier defeat by former professional Mike Talmondt in emphatic style to claim the second leg of the Cuestars South of England Seniors (40+) Tour.

The 48-year-old from Andover, who also won the season opener at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club last month, compiled a 71 break in a one-frame final shootout to secure maximum points.

Ex-Portsmouth champion Talmondt, a pro in the 1990s, dispatched Hunter 2-1 in their round-robin group at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, and agreed to split the £140 prize money when the pair met again in the final.

“I managed to win again,” said Hunter, who plys his trade at Salisbury Snooker Club.

“Mike beat me in the group stages. He’s a very good player and plays the right shots.”

Talmondt accounted for Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 2-1 in the semi-finals, a reverse of their first-leg encounter.

Martin Wallace dropped just one frame in five group matches and a quarter-final clash with Martin Hill (Salisbury SC) before going out to Hunter in the last-four.

According to Cuestars records, home player Alan Thomas’s 46 break was his highest in competition.

Not to be outdone, Paul Rose, also from Jesters, managed a 36 and Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) weighed in with a 23.

The third leg of six is at Salisbury Snooker Club on Sunday, January 25.