"FROZEN OUT"

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 91, 14 October 1922, Page 8

"FROZEN OUT"

UfcKKK M'CONACHY IN ENGLAND

CONSERVATIVE TOP-NQTCHERS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, Ist September.

Under the heading "M'Conachy 'Frozen, Out,'." Mr. H. Young writes in the "Evening News": "Just a year ago Clark M'Conachy arrived here from New Zealand. We had heard of him as a great 'red ball player, maker of a fourfigrire break at home, and holder of the Indian record. There was no flourish of trumpets or big-drum beating to herald his arrival; neither was there during the twelve months he has been here,' and a more gentlemanly and unassuming man I never wish to meet. Perhaps after all there is something in bounce and brag and the possession of a good Press agent, for M'Conachy couldn't say 'Boo' to a goose, and now, good player as he is, he returns home a failure. ."I say good player, and meaa. it, \ fcir, .had.he been given the .chances he naturally expected after travelling so many thouEands of miles he might be now .figuring in the world's best four. He has been 'frozen out' by the' corner of English players who monopolise the game, ;in.d, unable to earn. ever, a bare living until the championship time comes round, he is compelled to give in. Verbally promised matches,by several.of the leading players,, the New Zealander, realising that the 'in off game was not popular with our crack players, dropped it altogether at the end of last season, and duritifr the summer has been assiduously practising the all-round game. This was to give the enemy no cause to blaspheme. Now he finds he is not wanted, and the came he is now playing with Arthur Peall is the only fixture he had. He had, as a matter of fact, booked Thurston's Hall for the fortnight beginning on Monday next, but is without an opponent, so on 7th September- he sails home a bitterly disappointed man. He will take with him the' good wishes of everybody who came in contact with him whose good wishes are worth anything, and the knowledge that he tried 1o make good by the most sportsmanlike methods. He will pass Stevenson on the hi?h seas, and by a remarkable coincidence each party will include a baby boy makins its first vist to,what will be its native land. PLAYERS AND NEW BLOOD. _ "Billiard players are very conservative and strongly resentful of new blood coming into the game, hence the freez-ing-out process is no new cult of the present generation. John Uoberts was a very broad-minded man in this respect, but he froze Dawson out until public opinion demanded a match. Thgn when Dawson got to the top lie for some time ignored Stevenson's claims. When Stevenson put in a hopeless challenge for the championship, Diggle, who was Dawson's playing partner, joined in for the first, and last, time to knock Stevenson out in the preliminary round. In this' game Stevenson made a 600 break at rthe first session, and was made for life, although easily beaten by Dawson in the final. "When Stevenson and Dawson were at the top of the tree they caried on the freezing process at ihe expense of Inman, Harverson, and Bateman; and unfortunately the -.Billiard Association assisted the corner by refusing the' entry of these players in the championship. The formation of the Billiard Control Club synchronised with Dawson dropping out, and Stevenson was proclaimed tlieir first champion. The Billiard Association then did one.of the few wise things of its chequered career, and acclaimed Inman champion, and then permitted a challenge from A. E. Williams, which enabled Inman to consolidate his position, although few people took the match seriously." HOW TO REACH THE INNER ; CIRCLES. The "British Australasian" rema-rk^ of M'Conachy:. "He is a rattling good sport and a great fayonrite. His visit here has been an interesting and instructive one, but, I assume, a most expensive one. No doubt in 1 due course he will af?ain journey overseas to try his fortune. He lias learnt, I am sure, however, that in all forms of sport it is very difficult for a newcomer to secure lucrative engagements in England. A sensational victory and possession of premier honours would have assured him the entree into the inner circles. Without these, no man can force the monopolists to admit him to the precincts of the big halls, where the limelight glows and the big money is to be had for the playing." [The New Zealand billiardist is expected to reach the Dominion in the course of the next few days, probably landing at Auckland by the Niagara.]