“WHAT A MANS!”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22582, 10 March 1948, Page 8

“WHAT A MANS!”

SPEED AND SKILL HIGH GRADE SNOOKER AFRICA'S TOP PLAYER “And what a Mans!" exclaimed a member of (he enthused g;allei> at (lie Alhambra saloon, Gisoorne, cn Monday ms'll! during a display of liigh-gvade snooker riven by the South African eh.ampion, I etcr Mans, who showed flashes ol brilliant form in a swiftly-moving series of la frames. Speed was a striking feature of his aecomplisHccl play, but despite i ic unusual pan* bo preserved ™ n ‘ cue control and hairline accuracy. While ho drove forcefully when long hazards demanded such tactics. he also employed extreme delicacy of touch iu exacting. fine cuts, some of which, though seem'nglv impossible, dropped the obiect ball without even brushing the sides ot the pocket. Experienced follower:; of the atnular game were impressed also bwHiis quick appreciation of the possibilities ns he came to too table and his prompt action on the plan embracing positional play loi several strokes ahead.

The rapid action of Peter Mans 'vast demonstrated particularly during ms i eighth game which was completed m | six and a half minutes. In this he made j four visits to the table and faded to i score only with the break-up. Breaks I of 2(5 and 23 were followed by his best of the evening. 33. winch cleared the table. His ooponent failed to improve on the handicap of 3a points, but gave four away. the Africans tally thus reaching 123. Ten-Minute Average The game was the shortest of the series though three others wore complcted in nine minutes. Two ranged up to 15 minutes and the average time was slightly above 10 but below 11 minutes. , , . _ In his third game Mans brought ofl the unusual feat of sinking a red with the break-up stroke. He followed with a black and a red. but did not succeed with the next colour. Throughout he kept the and though he seldom ‘‘shacked the balls for an ooponont he did not obviously plav for safety- He did not en-d'-pvonr to lay snookers, but evinced skill in 'irenmvonting a succession of four laid by his opponent in the second game and showed deftness in a smiling application of one in retaliation. Concentration Without Strain Mans appeared to concentrate when in plav but without excessive strain and retained a pleasing manner which enhanced his popularity. ■ The programme of the evening consisted of 10 frames with leading district players as opponents. In each frame Mans ceded five blacks 3n points. He succeeded fairly easily in eight frames, though two opponents. S." Franks in the seventh and M. Thorstenson in the ninth, exploited opportunities to gain narrow decisions. Both were congratulated by Mans, who made no excuses. Mans followed the snooker exhibition with a scrips of practice strokes dpsim-ied to develop cue control, which ho described as the main essential to success in the game, and trick shots, the latter including astounding successes in clearing two or more obstacle halls lined along the cushions and sinking a nominated colour also placed in the line. Appreciation Expressed Mans subsequently expressed appreciation of the public interest shown in the exhibition and thanks to the players and all others who had cooperated. In congratulating the players he made particular reference to the promise shown by M. Thorstenson. He had hoped to be able to place a snooker century among the distnct lecoids, said Mans, but on the evening heßegretted his form was not quite good enough. He hoped he would be able to again visit Gisborne and give a be Spectators a recalled subsequently that though Mans did not realise his expressed hope, his top bieak ot th evening, 68, was five above the W which 'was the best achieved by the Australian champion. Horace Lindrum. during the latter’s exhibition on the same table in October of last year. The following details cover the scores in the successive games including the handicap of 35 points ceded by Mans to each opponent. The scoie nvi ,i p by Mans is given first in each instance and respective highest breaks in each game are shown in patens'llotiker• - First frame, 71 (321. v J. Hutchins 54 (7): second frame, 79 td.H v J Grummit, 59 (7): third frame, 74 (ini v. A. Muir, 03 (14); fourth frame, 112 (32), v. M. Thorstenson 59 (8); fifth frame. 103 (43). v. M. Ihorstenson 57 (14); sixth frame, 127 (32) v. J. Cook. 39 (4); seventh frame, 67 <2/) y. S Franks. 73 (15); eighth frame, _ 126 (63) v M. Tliorstenson, 3a: ninth frame. 69 (25). v. M. Thorstenson. <8 (10): tenth frame, 97 (41) v- J. Cook, 46 (9).