SNOOKER AND HILLARDS Champions Lose In Provincial Match

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 12

SNOOKER AND HILLARDS Champions Lose In Provincial Match

Three champion* each took a turn at losing in the flrst day's play of the annual billiards and snooker match between Canterbury and Wellington for the Mercer-Aitken Challenge Trophy, being played at the Post Office Social Club. W. Harcourt, holder of the 1963 New Zealand snooker title, was first to suffer defeat when he was surprisingly, but soundly, beaten by B. Klrkness. Klrkness turned In one of his beat performances, and his exhibition was of s very high standard. Harcourt at no stage settled down, and with Kkkness in such fine form, suffered what would probably be his first ever 3-0 defeat tn tournament play. In a later session, however. Harcourt struck top form to beat the Canterbury champion, T. Yesberg, two frame* to one. This match was also of a high standard of snooker, with both players taking turns to entertain the spectators with accurate potting and safety play. In the two frame* he won, Harcourt potted all the colours In each, showing the form which won him the national title earlier thia year. H. Robinson was the third

champion to taste defeat when he was beaten by the Canterbury billiards champion, E. Simons. With earlier win* both players were expected to settle down quickly, but Simons struck * bad patch early in the game, and it was not until the last half-hour that he regained any sort of form. At one stage Robinson, who was cueing well, was 119 tn front of Simon*, but with a safety shot that rolled too far. he allowed Simons an opportunity to make a break of 56. With a serie* of breaks. Simons took over the lead. He lost It again, but came back strongly, to record a satisfying win over the New Zealand champion. Simon* scored a good billiard* win in a close game against Harcourt In an afternoon session by 446 pointe to 414, while Yesberg recorded a snooker win for Canterbury, defeating M. Teague, two frame* to one. Other result* were.—Billiard*: Robinson beat D. Mann, 501408; R. OCallaghan (C.) beat M. Reid (W). 491-387; Mann beat Reid, 481-378; Harcourt beat Mann. 699-377. Snooker; Klrkness lost to W. Grant (W.). 12; Teague beat N. Prince (C.), 2-1; Grant beat Prince, 2-1.