A TEENAGER recorded his highest competitive break of 60 on his Cuestars South Wilts Snooker League debut - and still lost the frame.

Fordingbridge’s Anthony Rice reckons he was a “little unfortunate” to have left Salisbury Snooker Club empty-handed after his 5-0 whitewash in the season opener.

Neil Herd (Frome, Somerset) took that particular frame by clearing the colours and winning a re-spotted black.

“He out played me and deserved the win,” admitted Rice.

“But, I do feel that I could have won a few frames and was perhaps a little unfortunate not to.”

“Neil is a phenomenal player. However, I have learned a valuable lesson that at this standard a 60 does not necessarily seal the frame.”

Meanwhile, newcomer Richard Swaffield (Salisbury) fired a shot across defending champion John Hunter’s bow by seeing off Martin Hill (Durrington) 5-0 with breaks of 30, 32, 69 and 78.

“I can play like that sometimes,” said the 42-year-old. “It just seems to have clicked recently.

“I had to get a new cue a few weeks ago as my original cue that my dad bought me when I was 17 had worked its way down to a 7.5mm tip.”

Hunter (Andover) chalked up breaks of 64 and 59 in a 5-0 drubbing of Trevor Pittman (Salisbury).

Ally Pollard (Alderholt, near Fordingbridge) put a 3-2 defeat by Callum McDonald (Bishopdown) down to his opponent “just potting the key balls”.

Alex Thorn (Shrewton) let slip a healthy lead in a fifth-frame decider against Steve Ashton (Salisbury) to lose 3-2 on the black. It was the third frame of the match settled on the final ball.

And Richard Arnold (Salisbury) said there was nothing “remotely memorable” about his 3-2 defeat by Paul Burt (Britford).

Results: Alex Thorn 2 Steve Ashton 3; Richard Arnold 2 Paul Burt 3; Richard Swaffield 5 Martin Hill 0; Ally Pollard 2 Callum McDonald 3; Anthony Rice 0 Neil Herd 5; John Hunter 5 Trevor Pittman 0.

Highest break: Richard Swaffield 78.