BILLIARDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 15

BILLIARDS.

AUCKLAND TITLE,

AN EXCITING FINISH. NARROW WIN BY CARRICK. The final session of the Auckland provincial amateur billiards championship for the Billiards, Limited, shield was played last night at the showrooms of Messrs. Billiards, Limited. A record gathering, including several ladies, witnessed a great tussle between two ciass players. Holdsworth, who was 100 points in arrears on the first session, dominated the play in the early stages of the final session and gained a good lead of 10G points, but Carrick fought back well, giadually gaining ground, and in one of the most exciting finals for years gained a great victory by 21 points. The honours of the first session went to Carrick, who established a lead of 100 points, but Holdsworth collected the honours on the final session, and just failed to concede the winner 100 points after a great performance.

Carrick, with a break of 32 unfinished from the first session, carried on to 54 before failing. Holdsworth, who found touch much sooner, than in the first session, quickly wiped off the arrears, and splendid all-round breaks of 62 and ,94 were the results of artistic play. He was unfortunate in missing the century break through misjudging a cushion cannon. Two twenty-odd breaks were his next efforts of note, and at this stage he heid a lead of 70-odd points.

Carrick did not have many opportunities up to this stage, but improved, and notched three 20-odd breaks. Holdsworth kept forcing the game, and a nice break of 40 resulted. Carrick made a determined effort to wipe off his deficit, and three breaks of 30-odd were made in artistic style, and at this stage the scorei were 799 to 785 in favour of Holdsworth.

The latter increased his iead once again, and runs of 23, 33 and 43 brought his total up to 941. Carrick then made consecutive breaks of 40 and 48, arul the scores were practically even at 050. Both players appeared to be feeling the strain of their strenuous contest at this stage, and play became exciting. Carrick, however, was more favoured by the run of the balls and gained victory by 21 points. Both players received an ovation at the conclusion of the game. The final scores were: R. Carrick, 1000 (breaks in the final session of 55, 27, 20, 20, 30, 32, 30, 40, 48 and 23 —average 10 points per cue); L. F. W. Holdsworth, 979 (breaks of C 2, 94, 20, 24, 40, 33, 43— average 9.7 per cue). Mr. W. E. Hackett, president of the Auckland Billiard Association, congratulated the winner and runner-up on their fine displays, and presented the Billiards, Limited, shield to Mr. R. Carrick, who will hold this for one year: ak-j a gold medal, which goes with the provincial championship. Both players eulogised the excellent playing conditions under which the championship was held. It was announced that the first official Auckland provincial amateur snooker ,championship will be held at the end of this month.