Nolan making billiards bid

Press, 14 December 1977, Page 6

Nolan making billiards bid

Alf Nolan (England) greatly improved his prospects of reaching the semi-finals in the Citizen Watch world open billiards champlonshps, being played in Christchurch, when he narrowly beat Girish Parikh ilndia) yesterday. The four top players after the round robin series ends tomorrow will qualify for Friday’s semifinals and it appears almost certain that the top three will be Michael Ferreira (India), John Barrie and Markham Wildman (both England). By beating Parikh, who is also in the i-unning for the last place, the left-handed Nolan moved into clear fourth position and if he can beat Dave Meredith (N.Z.) today he should retain tills standing. However. Nolan is probably as awar e as anyone that he will need to score much better than he did against Parikb to have any chance of progressing to the final. Their game was marked bv many errors and it was a particularly bad one by Parikh that almost certainly cost liim victory. Nolan led bv about 100 points for most of Ute three hours, but Parikh — in a manner not unlike his recovery to beat Meredith on Monday —- came with a late run and with about five minutes remaining he took the lead for the first tune. 724-689. It was a break of 75 that put Parikh in front and with the white ball off the table he elected to play a safety shot. However he was far too gentle with his shot to push the red into baulk and instead he left it perfectly placed for a hazard to the middle pocket. Nolan, in full knowledge that he was possibly having his last turn at the table, plaved the hazard safely and continued to regain the lead with an unfinished! break of 65. Before yesterday's matches there was an outside chance that Brian Kirkness (N.Z.) could also figure in the race for the fourth semi-final position. However this hope disappeared when Kirkness was convincingly beaten by Kingsley Kennerley (England), who is below him on the table. Kennerley won a game of strangly uneven scoring, 1121-701 Both players began badlv and after 10 visits to the table Kennerley had 36 points from two breaks and Kirkness. with a visit less, had 28 from two breaks. Kirkness got the first big break, an 86. but lie then went back into his shell and Kennerley. with a string of useful re- . turns, was ahead 702-233 when Kirkness came to the table for the first time in the second session. , The New Zealander then hlostomed again witii a break of 217 1

and a 108 soon after brougl him right back into the gam. at just on 200 behind, but once again Kirkness faded and the very experienced Kennerley refound his touch to widen the gap again and win decisively. Meredith was again beateu narrowly yesterday. but he played well enough for his opponent. Syed Aieem, to acknow ledge that the 29-year-otd Christchurch entrant had a very bright future in the game. Early breaks of 123 and 131 shot Aieem to a 331-98 lead al the completion of the first half hour, but Meredith, playing steady' if unseptacular billiards, had closed the gap to just on 100 at the interval. Aieem increased his lead with a third century early in the second session, but Meredith replied with a century himself and twe further breaks in the seventies brought him to 899-786 behind. Unfortunately for Meredith when he broke down on a break oi 73 he left the red ball sitting over a corner pocket and Aieem was excellently placed to gel started on his fourth centun break, Meredith continued to scon well in the dying stages, bul each time he faltered Aieem was jeft with Sood position and the Indian was able to maintain az advantage of about 100. If .Meredith is a little dis appointed with his billiards re suits he can take ample soiac< from his efforts in the snookej tournament, which is beinj played in association with thi billiards championship. Tester day Meredith maintained his sniperb snooker form of recei..* days and in beating Aieem threi frames to one he had breaks o) B 5 and 86. Ferreira maintained his un beaten record when he bet( George Ganim. jun.. by 601 points at Hastings on Mondaj night. Today Ferreira plavi George Ganim. spn., at the samt cenue and his last round-robii Dpponent will be Kirkness q Christchurch tomorrow. Yesterday’s results:— A. Nolan (Eng./. 754 (110 154 Parikh (India) 725 -72 <7. 75); K. Kennerley 'Eng.i 1121 96. 133. 75. 79. 77, 91. 75, 151 17) beat B. Kirkness (N.Z.), 70' 2, L 71,; S - Aleem 1081 123. 131, 153. 104) beat D. Mere iith iN.Z.j. 922 (119. 79. 73). Tahol •

„ „ P W. I 4 M. Ferreira (India) 9 9ft J. Barrie (Eng.) .10 a 2 M. Wildman (Eng.; .10 7 3 A. Nolan (Eng.) .10 fi 4 G. Parikh (India) . 9 5 4 J. Bates (Ireland) ..10 5 5 B. Kirkness (N.Z.) .10 4 « G. Ganlm, sen. (Aust.) S 4 4 S. Aleem (India) 9 4 5 G. Ganim, Jun. (Aust.) a 2 « K. Kennerlev (Engl H 2 « D. Meredith (N.Z.i 9 1 9