BILLIARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 190, 12 August 1919, Page 7

BILLIARDS.

tiie new Zealand amateur CHAMPIONSHIP. The New Zealand amateur championship I opened yesterday at the Auckland .Sports Clubs Rooms. Mr C. Sanders (president), in welcoming the gathering, commented upon the tine sporting spirit of Mr. Harry Siedeberg, the present champion, who had journeyed all the way from Dunedln to defend his title.

The opening match, played l>y Messrs. Roberts nnd Fredatovlten, created interest, as tills was their first appearance in the New Zealand championship. Both started cautiously, appearing not to be at home with the new billiard balls. TTarly in the came" Roberts made 24. 33, and 27. Fredatovttch replied with :S<>. Ho, '22 and 40. The ball? then rau safely, Fredntovitcb being the first to move again, with HO and 2fi. which put him over 100 points alicad. Roberts then made an excellent nll-ronnrt break of SI which Fredatovitch followed with =!2. keeping him still in the lead. Roberts appeared then to settle down. and. playing with ronlidenep. he added quickly SO. :>."). 27. and 42. gnlnins a lead of 120. Frcdatovitch hnd n somewhat bad run. but nt loncrh pot In with a well-played 6."> and 20. Roberts continued with 27 and 31. Fredatovitch replied with 32. but no further chances came his way. Roberts winuin? by SO points, with an n vera Re of 7.2 per i-vf, which \xprp irood figures considering that 4fi out of his 03 visits to the table were non-productive. In the evening Farreli. the veteran of the competition, opposed 11. Siedeberg, the present champion. Roth started slowly. Siedcberg being puzzled by the spread of the balls, the veteran In the meantime making some brilliant slow-screw individual shins. At the twentieth cue the scores were: Soidoberg 2UI Farreli 210. From this point F.-irrell seemed to tire, while rtiedebrrg gained confidence, adapting himself to the new balls. lie pushed ahead rapidly, and won by 2r,i poiuts. his best breaks being 23. 23. r»r». '.'.7, S3, 3S. 17. ami 78, averaging !).."■ per cue. This afternoon the old opponents. Messrs. Warren and tlackett, met at 2.:;i>. nnd tonight r.urke opposes Russell at 7.30 p.m. The seml-tinals will be played on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and the three sessions of the tinal (20IK) up'l will be played on Friday night, and Saturday afternoiui ami night lUiiii poiuts per session).