BILLLARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 145, 19 June 1915, Page 16

BILLLARDS.

Tn rommcntinjr on the recent gamp for the world's championship in which Inm.an boat thf Australian George Gray, an English writer says: —Tnman. at Tiurston's, won the big match by 450 points. Thus he avengod the defeat inflicted upon him by Gray about four years ago. The play throughout was strenuous, and with the |t~esKione often extending to two and j three-quarter hours the men in the second week deteriorated, the billiards being hardly po good as was seen in the first six days. That, .however, is not unusual in keen frames upon which a great deal depends. However, the interest was i always thoroughly maintained, and with Cray always at the hep'is of his rival, and once actually leading, it was never jwvsible to point with any certainty to the winner: indeed, on .Saturday afternoon the .Australian crept to wit-'iin i>o of Inman. That, however, was his flnal kick, for Inman, who had been a little unlucky and a trifle carelese too. then buck-led to his work with such will that by the end of the next ten innings— which -covered the conclusion of the afternoon and commencement of the evening's play—he had jumped his lead to "no. That was Inman at his best, and at that ftacre of the prer-ce.linffs he was very ruthless, and gave the Australian few chances. It was characteristic of the champion, and an effort that won him a very good game.

Cray disappointed, and was never at any time thoroughly confident with the balls. Whether Inman's theory is correct it is difficult to say. and a further test is necessary before data of a reliable character can be obtained. However, the fact that Cray made only a (500 and two 400"s in a fortnight is significant enough to demand consideration for the champion's ideas. It has been written that Cray mixed his game. That is so. but it was by compulsion—not choice. He was trying throughout the game to stow the white away and get the red cornfortahly in the middle of the table for losing hazards, but found that -xtremely difficult. Then. too. his long-Vosers. of which he had to make many, often failed him, whilst the rod ball often dropped into a middle pocket. Cray, as a matter of fact, was never master of tlie balls. Inman's play was full of resource. In the coitrse of an extended career he has cultivated a method of playing that loaves little for an opponent. Whether is by good judgment or good fortune that ho docs so ho alone knows, but occasionally he succeeded in giving Gray a very cold time. Th. Australian, it must be remembered, had played Inman only ono game previous to the match, and that some years ago. .As others had discovered, tlie champion is a very difficult man to beat. Big breaks by an opponent do not affect his play.

Altogether it was a very good match, played on thorongitly sporting linethroughout. Neither man took the least advantage, and when guilty of foul strokes walked from the tahle before the opponent could appeal or the referee had time to intervene. The spirit of the match was good, and both players were loudly cheered by the crowded house after Inman had made the wiunincr stroke. Inman was, of course, pleaseiT but Cray is not convinced that the result was the right one. He subsequently remarked that he had not done himself justice, and hoped next time to prove it. He was, it must be admitted, a little unlucky at times.