Hunter shows it's a young man's game IT wouldn't have happened in Doug Mountjoy's day.

Proof, if ever it was needed, that snooker is now a young man's game came in the revelation of Paul Hunter's secret of his success in the final of the Benson and Hedges Masters.

The 22-year-old was trailing 6-2 after the afternoon session but in the evening turned a thrilling final on its head to beat Fergal O'Brien 10-9 in the early hours of Monday morning.

And Hunter's inspiration for coming from behind in such dramatic fashion?

"My back was against the wall at that stage but then I put Plan B into operation," he explained.

"I'm not telling you what it is but I went back to my hotel room and all I'm saying is my girlfriend was there."

Joe Davis will be turning in his grave but it could catch on if the effects are as awe-inspiring at it appeared to be for Hunter.

The Leeds-based world number 14 pocketed £175,000 after knocking in four centuries in six frames and then keeping his nerve in a 46-minute last-frame decider.

He also banked £10,000 for his share of the high break prize after equalling Jimmy White's 136 and on this form he looks a decent bet for the Embassy World Championship, with hoteliers in Sheffield already rubbing their hands in glee.

Incidentally, did anyone else notice the striking similarity between O'Brien and our very own Steve Tinniswood. And is it any coincidence that that Steve rolled up late to work on Monday with bags under his eyes?

AFTER all these years behind the microphone, John Motson is still able to find the new angle.

Mottie was always going to be a hard act to follow when ITV take over the Premiership highlights next season.

But he's obviously going that extra yard in the closing months of the season to ensure that he will never be eclipsed when it comes to describing a goal.

To most viewers, Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had the relatively easy task of nodding the ball past Raymond Van Der Gouw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to give the Blues the lead.

But that wasn't enough for Mottie.

"All he had to do was incline his forehead," roared the sheepskin-coated one.

I bet Jimmy didn't even know he could do that and now he can, won't his agent want a slice?

WHO are the fools in the murky waters of cricket's great batting scandal?

Those cheats who took the money to under-preform, or those who paid it.

A new wave of allegations surfaced at the weekend which outline details of where players supposedly 'took a bung.'

Among the claims is one whereby West Indies players took money to throw their wickets in a one-day international in Australia.

I hope it didn't happen, but the way the West Indian batsman played Down Under I would have kept my cash and waited for them to do it anyway.