Billiards match annulled

Press, 23 June 1978, Page 18

Billiards match annulled

An immediate decision had not been possible in the case of two competitors who had their game in the qualifying rounds of the Canterbury billiards championship last week-end ruled out, said one of the organisers. Mr Chris ] Anderson, this week. Mr Anderson was replying to a letter to “The Press" , from one of the involved players. Bill Dilks, in which : Dilks asked why the disqualification decision was not. i taken until after the game had been played. The other player was the defending champion, Dave! Meredith, and against all predictions Dilks beat him. by a I single point scored right on {the bell. 409-408. Mr Anderson said that { both players were late in arriving for their game and it was made clear that they] could go ahead and play, but; there could be no guarantee that rhe result would stand.

1 Mr Anderson said that he ; was busy refereeing anothef 1 game at the time and a meeiI ing of the match committee had to be convened before I any firm decision could be • made. < The match committee had. in fact, met before the game ! finished and the decision ' reached to deciare it null and I:Void because both players i had breached the • by being late. On subsequent results. ■ Dilks would not have quali{fled even if his win over ■ Meredith had stood, said Mr ■ Anderson. And the only difference to Meredith wouM ; have been that he would have been the second, not the top. qualifier from the section. It was unfortunate that the {incident had occurred, but It : was also important in timej limit games that the players {be ready to play at the appointed time, said Mr Anderson.