SNOOKER.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 264, 7 November 1929, Page 10

SNOOKER.

REPLY TO CHALLENGE. E. J. O'Donoghue writes:—l notice in your issue of yesterday a £500 challenge by Frank Smith, jun., of Sydney, to play me at snooker. Mr. Smith issues the challenge as the result of some remarks made by what he terms "some of my enthusiastic New Zealand admirers" during their visit to Australia. I may say at once that I authorised no one to say anything on my behalf; but I would now like to make public the following facts. After making my world's record break of 134 in May last, I did authorise Mr. M. Gollan, of Griffiths, to challenge Mr. Smith at snooker for any amount for which ho could find backers. Mr. Gollan did challenge him and Smith accepted on certain terms. However, nothing came of the match. I do not know if the match fell through owing to fear, shortness of cash, or inability to find backers on the part of Mr. Smith. But I do know this —that when I could not get a match wiht so noted a player as Smith, who regards himself (and possibly rightly so) as the world's best exponent of the game, I concluded it was not worth while keeping myself in practice at snooker, and have not played the game for the last four rnonths. My only play during that time has been an occasional game of billiards. As I have held my own with several of New Zealand's best amateur players in friendly games, and as Mr. Smith is the professional billiards champion of New South Wales, I would like him to state in the form of a challenge through your paper:—The number of points up, the start he will concede me, the amount ho will play me for at either Sydney or Auckland at billiards with crystalatc balls. I have never even won an amateur championship. I will immediately cover Mr. Smith's deposit.