BILLIARDS FINAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 152, 29 June 1945, Page 9

BILLIARDS FINAL

BOTH PLAYERS IN FORM

WHITFORD 76 AND TWO 50's Play worthy of the final was witnessed in the first session of the final of the Auckland provincial open billiards championship last night between R. Whitford and L. W. F. Holdsworth. Both played freely and quickly, and there was consistent break-making, with Whitford twice getting into the 50's, and also compiling the biggest break of the night—76. Six times during the session of 500 up both players made a break exceeding 30, and when Whitford led by 53 points at the end of the night's play he had averaged 11.3 —first-class billiards from a New Zealand viewpoint.

Holdsworth settled down to his game quickly, and when he passed the first hundred he had averaged 12, his best efforts being 35 and 36. Whitford then replied with his break of 76 —made by allround billiards, and this saw him lead at 174 to 147. Whitford broke down when he missed the white in attempting a thin in-off in the top pocket.

With breaks of 24 and 34, Holdsworth took the lead again, only to see Whittord retaliate with a 51. Whitford added a 21, to pass the 300 mark, 43 in the lead. Whitford consolidated his position with a break of 52, and was 97 in front with an average of 12. Whitford had increased his lead to 107 on passing the 400 mark, but Holdsworth played a determined game and made his biggest break—46. Whitford, after a few errors, reached 500 with an unfinished break of 7. Holdsworth's score was 447.

The match will be concluded to-night at Messrs. Barton and McGill's Showrooms.