CHAMPIONSHIP BILLIARDS

Evening Star, Issue 21216, 24 September 1932, Page 10

CHAMPIONSHIP BILLIARDS

COMPLETION OF SEMI-FINALS BOWIE AND MASON IN FINAL Wide interest was taken in the semi-final match of the New Zealand amateur billiards championship at the R.S.A. Club last night, because of the fact that Angus Duncan (Wellington), who won the championship last year, was meeting A. Bowie (Dunedin), a previous holder of the title.. It wa# generally anticipated that a close contest would be seen, but, as it proved, Bowie won easily by 666 to 313. A. splendid all-round exposition of billiards was given by Bowie, who, scoring consistently, finished with the highly creditable average of 14.43 points for each visit to the table.. Certainly the run of the balls was not favourable to Duncan, but at the same time he did not play up to championship form when chances did come his way.

The other semi-final was played in the afternoon between C. Mason (Dunedin) and H. M'Lean (Christchurch), the Dunedin player winning by 666 to 588 in a game which M'Lean contested doggedly all the way. Each player had a lead at various stages, but Mason, playing with a better control of the balls, eventually drew ahead to win. The results of the semi-finals leave Mason and Bowie in the final for championship honours. Both have held the title before. The final, which is of 1,500 up. was started this afternoon, and will be finished to-night.. The games throughout the tournament have been refereed by Mr C. Bertenshaw, who will meet the winner in an exhibition game on Monday night, the' takings to be devoted to the R.S.A. Christmas treat for the children of deceased and disabled soldiers. In a very sporting speech after his game in the evening, Duncan congratulated Bowie on his excellent display.Billiards such as played by Bowie that night would win championships everywhere, and billiards as played by himself that night would lose championships anywhere.' The players in tha present championship were the finest lot of fellows he had met in any tournament, and there had been a fine sporting spirit. He wished to thank Mr O. L. Ferens, the secretary of the R.S.A., and others connected with the association, for the treatment ho hadl received since coming to Dunedin. On behalf of all the visiting players he wished to express appreciation of the excellence of the arrangements for the tournament. DETAILS OF PLAY. In the game between M'Lean and Mason the former opened the scoring and, aided by a 28 break, reached 62 while Mason was only 2. Getting position, however, Mason ran up a good 49 break and then went on to reach tho first hundred when M'Lean was 94. In breaks of 32 and 38 Mason displayed some excellent top-of-the-table play and went to 199 to M'Lean’s 168. A good 31 break by M'Lean lessened the gap, and, scoring .steadily, the Christchurch man next added a 46 break to make the scores: M'Lean 249, Mason 236. With a 23 break the Dunedin player regained the lead, but M'Leafi still followed him closely, a 34 break in which he played extremely difficult round-the-table cannons taking the scores to: Mason 334, M'Lean 294. A 35, a 22, and a 64 took M'Lean to 482, a lead of 6 over the 477 by Mason, whose total included a2B and a 34. At this stage Mason, with admirable control of the balls, went ahead again, consistent scoring and a 43 and a 26 break giving him the lead by 577 to 521. Both players went on steadily, and M'Lean lessened the gap, hut he iiad too much leeway to make up. Mason running out a winner by 666 to 588. Mason’s best breaks: 49, 43, 38, 34, 32, 28, 28, 26. Average per visit to table, 8.64. M'Lean’s best breaks; 54, 46, 35, 34, 31, 28, 22. Average, 5.88. _ Duncan opened the scoring in the game with Bowie, and, aided by a 36 break, reached 45 when his opponent was 11. In his next two visits to the table, however, the local man made a 55 and a 34, taking his total to 100, In both bleaks he showed excellent con. trol of the balls, scoring from in-off shots and top-of-the-table play. Duncan missed when he seemed to have the balls in position, while Bowie, playing brilliantly, scored consistently. Duncan improved his position a little with an excellent 44, mostly from in-off to tho side and top pockets, but breaks of 29, 63, and 32 in attractive style took Bowie to 254 when the Wellington man was 109. Breaks of 34 and 52 gave Bowie a further lead by 422 to 229, and then hs followed with a brilliant effort of 89, leaving Duncan nearly 300 behind. Duncan compiled a 37, but he was too far behind at this stage to have any chance of reaching his opponent, who was missing very little. Breaks of 36, 30, and an unfinished 50 carried Bowie out at 666 while the Wellington man’s score stood at 313. The game lasted for just a little over two hours.

Bowie’s best breaks: 89, 63, 55, 50 (unfinished), 52, 36, 34, 34, 32, 30, 29, 21. Average per visit to table, 14.43, Duncan’s best breaks: 44, 37, 36, 25, 20. Average, 6.94.