SOUTHAMPTON Super League player Paul Lawrence has made a first semi-final appearance on an over 40s circuit.

The 43-year-old from Midanbury had never even qualified for the knockout in his five previous outings on the Cuestars South of England Seniors Tour.

Lawrence, who turns out for Park Gate RBL B, won all five round-robin group matches at Fareham Snooker Club.

And that included the scalp of three-time champion John Hunter (Andover).

He then beat tennis coach John Monckton (Woking) 2-0 in the last-eight before going down 2-0 to Mike Talmondt (Portsmouth), the eventual tournament winner.

The left-hander broke down on a run of 33 in the first frame and lost on the pink. His ex-professional opponent smacked in an 81 in the next.

Former joint champion Wayne Muddiman (West End) was the only one of the 21 entries not to drop a frame in the group stages.

The Chandlers Ford Central Club A cueman then made a 61 break in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat by leg-one winner Matt Ford (Bracknell).

Neil Carroll (Rownhams), who plays for Eastleigh Railway Institute A, also beat Hunter but failed to progress to the knockout.

Nick Miles (Fawley) and David Stewart (Odiham) were also group-stage casualties.

Muddiman is third in the rankings, 13 points off top spot. Lawrence is three points further back in joint fourth.

Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club hosts the Cuestars Under-21 two-man Team Challenge tomorrow at 10.30am.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS Group A: 1st, Paul Lawrence (Midanbury); 2nd, John Hunter (Andover); 3rd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury); 4th, Stephen Hills (Northfleet); 5th, Neil Carroll (Rownhams); 6th, Peter Chin (Woking).

Group B: 1st, Mike Talmondt (Portsmouth); 2nd, Matt Ford (Bracknell); 3rd, Chris Stocker (Ascot); 4th, Neil Herd (Frome); 5th, Nick Miles (Fawley).

Group C: 1st, Wayne Muddiman (West End); 2nd, Martin Luker (Swindon); 3rd, David Stewart (Odiham); 4th, Alan Thomas (Swindon); 5th, Jasbir Bansal (Woking).

Group D: 1st, Richard Swaffield (Salisbury); 2nd, John Monckton (Woking); 3rd, Martin Wallace (Reading); 4th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury); 5th, Ray Mears (Aldershot).

KNOCKOUT RESULTS Quarter-finals: Lawrence 2 Monckton 0, Talmondt 2 Luker 0, Ford 2 Muddiman 1, Swaffield 2 Hunter 0.

Semi-finals: Talmondt 2 Lawrence 0, Ford 2 Swaffield 0.

Final: Talmondt 2 Ford 1.

EASTLEIGH & DISTRICT JUNIOR LEAGUES LEAGUE 50 WEEK 7 GROUP WINNERS U13: Jamie Wilson, Harry Joyce, Tarrik Wing.

Breaks: Jamie Wilson: 49, 29, 28.

U19: Mickey Joyce, Charlie Pringle.

Breaks: Olly Gibbs 33 & 32, Mickey Joyce 31, Charlie Pringle 29, Connor Benzey 27, Ryan Hughes 25, Steven Hughes 23, Oliver Sykes 22.

CHANDLER’S FORD SC OPEN SERIES 19 WEEK 12 RESULTS (15 RUNNERS) Prelims: Oliver Sykes 2 Phil Morgan 1, Mike Trigg 2 David Stewart 0, Connor Benzey 2 Pete Jordan 1, Oli Line 2 Mickey Joyce 1, Steven Hughes 3 Charlie Pringle 2, Jamie Wilson 3 Dan Sykes 1, Barry Doswell 2 Ryan Hughes 1.

Quarter-finals: O Sykes 3 Trigg 1, Benzey 3 Line 2, S Hughes 3 Wilson 0, Doswell 2 Christopher Brown 1.

Semi-finals: Benzey 3 O Sykes 1, S Hughes 2 Doswell 0.

Final: S Hughes 3 Benzey 2.

Plate final: D Sykes 2 Jordan 1.

Breaks: Benzey: 40, 37, 35, 33, 32; Joyce: 40, 30; Jordan: 23.

Top 12 (to share £1,310): Ryan Hughes (C/Ford) 13 h/cap, 80 pts; Connor Benzey (Eastleigh) -10, 80; Oliver Sykes (C/Ford) -1, 75; Barry Doswell (Portsmouth) 20, 68; Charlie Pringle (C/Ford) 4, 67; Phil Morgan (Salisbury) -9, 59; Steven Hughes (C/Ford) -8, 59; Dan Sykes (C/Ford) -14, 56; Dan Hammond (Winchester) -20, 53; Jamie Wilson (Havant) -3, 52; Pete Jordan (Bitterne) 11, 51; Mike Trigg (East Wellow) -2, 41.

CHANDLER’S FORD SC £4,000 ROLL-UP Comp No 15: Rob Baker £45, Stu Barter £25, Nick Spender £15.

Comp No 16: Steve Boterhoek £55, Carlo Cavagnetto £55, Dan Sykes £15.

Top 11 (top 10 to share £4,000): Carlo Cavagnetto (C/Ford) £277, John Barton (Eastleigh) £165, Stu Barter (Marchwood) £150, Dave Wheatland (Southampton) £120, Neil Carroll (Rownhams) £115, Leon Hill (Southampton) £115, Dave Nunn (Winchester) £105, Rich Tickner (Eastleigh) £100, Jed Dollin (C/Ford) £75, Nick Spender (Bishopstoke) £75, Dan Sykes (C/ford) £75.