BILLIARDS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 26 September 1925, Page 6

BILLIARDS.

Me CON ACHY IN ACTION. CONTEST AT KAPONGA. Billiards enthusiasts of the Kaponga district were treated to an eye-opening exhibition at Harry Hawke’s saloon last evening, when Clark McConachy, the brilliant New Zealand cueist, who is recognised as one of the world’s most exponents, ceded a local player, Mr. J. Lennane, 450 in a game of 750 up.

Lonnane faced his doughty opponent with an entire absence of any visible nervousness which the' occasion might reasonably have been expected to inspire, and though loft some difficult positions commenced well, making breaks during his first eight cues of 27, .14, 19 and 29. He played steadily throughout, his best subsequent breaks being 18, 19 and 24, but when McConachy set out to haul down tlie lead, Lennane found it difficult to leave the balls safe, and he was .100 short of the required total when McConachy finally ran out after 75 minutes’ play. Leunano, however, was by no means disgraced, considering the calibre of the man against whom ho was matched. McConachy, with his sixth visit to the table, - gave an intimation of his control of the balls when in hand after compiling 38, ho played a gathering shot to tho top of tlie table.' With no more than two subsequent returns to baulk,- he carried tho break to 95 with a pretty exhibition of alternate cannons and sinking the red, varied at intervals with a series of delicately touched nursery cannons along tho top cushion. This. play, interspersed with long hazards, was prominent in a subsequent break of (59, which terminated wlipn a cush cannon failed to connect. His next attempt was more successful, his top of the table tactics securing 105 out, of a break of 121. The following cue resulted in 73, bringing McConachy ’s total to 51Q, 55 minutes’ play from flip commencement of the game. The possibilities of the intricate masseshot wore shown to the audience during tho champion’s next big break which, finishing at 201, proved his highest for the evening. Of this number 70 wore compiled with beautifully controlled cannons at the head of tho tabic before he potted tho red. Compelled to go in off, he sent the object ball to the centre, gave a variation of hazards and long cannons, then once again gathered the balls at tjic top, and with graceful precision added the remaining 131 of the break, during which time ho was only three times in hand. A few moments later a break of 25 secured the total re quired to call billiards. A ganic of snooker between McConachy and Harry Hawke followed. Hawke, w|io was given 30 balls, proved the winner by 78 to 09. j

An exhibition of trick and fancyshots was also given by McConachy, who effected scores? from apparently impossible positions and gave farther evidence of his dexterity with the cue and mastery of the balls. * The entertainment concluded with a cue competitions organised by the champion. Mr. J. Tyack annexed the trophy after an interesting contest.