BILLIARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 31, 5 February 1916, Page 16

BILLIARDS.

In its comment on the final stages of the Gray v. Stevenson match, the deciding one of the rubber, which was won by the Australian after an exciting finish, the "Sportsman" says:—Amid a scene of great enthusiasm, and with the cheers j of a crowded house just as hearty for the loser as the winner, George Gray defeated Harry Stevenson at Thurston's i Grand Hall, Leicester Square, in their match of 18,000 up level for £100. The margin in favour of the Australian was 200, quite eneugh, pf ccurse, to determine the destination of the cheque for a "hundred" depending upon the result, | but a score difference that easily might have been the other way about had the luck distributed itself equally during the protracted final session. The believers in tho imperturbability of Gray under the most exacting circumstances probably suffered -something akin to a disappointment. Truly enough tho junior professional made a beautiful century br-ak when well within sight of game, but, for some reason or other, he avoided the aU-red route in favour of the top-of-the-table methods,* and here he made sufficient mistakes to let Stevenson in for chances of winning right up to the bitter end. The balls, however, were not kind to the Englishman, and try as he would he could npt prevent them rolling dead into line, and although negotiating successfully numerous brilliant shots for recovery purposes, the remedy was not entirely effective for the cure. Thus Stevenson lost the odd one of the three matches played between the pair during the year 1915, and yet the Hull man possesses a balance pf 743 points on the aggregate for the whole, 53,499 to 52,756. The difference is reflected by the fact that Gray's two victories were by 241 and 260 respectively, whereas in August last Stevenson pulled throtrgh by 1,244. The quality of the billiards during the third meeting suffered slightly by comparison with the other two, and still both men averaged about 40 for twenty-five sessions, statistics that are quite excellent considering that thrice the aggregates failed to reach treble figures.

In the presence of a packed assembly in the afternoon of the last day of play Gray carried an unfinished 273 to 314 before missing a plain losing hazard, and with Stervenson drawing a blank, the Australian more than doubled his lead by means of an exceedingly well-played and versatile 149, during which more points were gathered at the top of the table than by his favourite losers. Gray eventually failed at an awkward cross-the-board slicing losing hazard, but for some time afterwards the junior expert effected slow progress, while Stevenson not only drew level, but also opened out a useful advantage. The Englishman tacked on compilations of 41, 64, and 107, and then embarked upon what turned out to.be his chied d'oeuvTe of .the day. Esteblishing himself firmly in the vicinity of the top spot; Steve-nson reeled off points at marvellous speed and with the minimum of exertion. It became almost a case oi familiarity breeding contempt, for when the magnificent break reached 355 tha Vn-rVaihj-rp-mn-n scarcely took sufficient pains over a long loser from the *"D," and suffered a penalty which had not been paid off at the adjournment. As a matter of fact, Stevenson's last fifteen innings only yielded a total of 70 points. While his opponent was "occupying the floor," Gray aaaountcd for ru*?'* -* 1 Q7 and 47..

just when things were geting desperate the Australian regained the lead in stringing together 331. The first 150 of these were off the coloured ivory, and in the end the striker failed at just an ordinary'centre pocket loser. Subsequently clever safety moves constituted the predominant features, and "it was entirely owing to these that "Gray only averaged 32 for an aggregate of 870 against Stevepson's figures of 25 and 682 respectively.

Chief breaks.—Gray, 314 (full), 149, 97, 47, 331, 45, "and 59 (unfinished) ; Stevenson; 41/64, 107, and 355-

Riming at night with a pull of 284 points, Gray took an extremely long time to win his game, and for the concluding session he only averaged 29 for an aggregate of 799, Stevenson in the interim recording statistics of 31 and 823. The Australian opened'in promising style by carrying his suspended effort of the previous extensive sitting to 145, retirement' arising over a red winner, and as otevenson conld not get going at all, beyond' a lovely 62, the younger player increased his lead to well oveir 500 by means of almost entirely coloured ball compilations of 128 and 204* the dismissal shots being a long and a screw loser. From this point, however, Gray travelled very slowly, and Stevenson caused "great excitement by throwing almost consecutive compilatums of 86, 215, and 186 at his opponent. Both the centuries were lovely creationo, and upon each occasion the beating was a narrow one, a difficult masse cannon and an equally puzzling screw loser.' Little was done of any note for some considerable period, but ultimately Gray got going to the tune of an entirely top-of-the-table 104, a simple red winner causing dismissal. Luck did not favour. Stevenson during the' closing stages. An unkind ball ruined the best of calculated positions, and" as the loser could not register anything more than 47, 60, and 29, Gray; reached' game'with 43 (unfinished). "Chief breats.—Gray, 145 (full), 128, 204, ' 37, ' 33)'. TOi, 43 (unfinished); Stevenson, 62, 86, 215, 186, 47, 60.

The final scores were: Gray, 18,000; Stevenson, 17,740.