BRILLIANT BILLIARDS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 February 1931, Page 6

BRILLIANT BILLIARDS

LTNDRTJM WINS GOLD CUP. “GREATEST PLAYED EYED,” United Press Aisoociatlon —By Electric Telegraph Copyright), LONDON, Fob. .14. The greatest billiards struggle of the century ended when after a gallant and masterly contest Walter Lindrum (Australia) defeated W. Newman (England) in the final heat of the re-play in the international tournament for the gold cup. The occupants of Thurston’s Hall, •which might have been much larger and still crowded, gave the winner an ovation.

The perfection of Lindrum’s play has enormously revived interest in the game. His clearing off of the handicap of 7000 was a triumph only possible by supreme skill and technique added to quiet optimism when the game was adverse.

•Critics-, viewing Newman’s improvement in the past year, agree that Lindrum is the greatest exponent of the (game ever seen, displaying unequalled .accuracy and control of strokes with 'closest attention to every variation of play. Yesterday he consolidated with ithc greatest case the lead of 24S lie j gained on Friday night. He reached I four figures in 42 minutes, making his seventh thousand of the .match and fiftieth of the season. He then slowed down and reached 1163, when he got the balls badly spread and failed with a difficult long masse cannon. Newman played cautiously, but lost a chance when he was beaten by an awkward screw cannon off the top cushion. Lindrum played out time to the interval, converting his innings after the resumption to 490 and thereafter playing for safety. Newman, though the game was then devoid of competitive interest, skilfully improved what position was left to him. Lindrum averaged 24S and Newman 169 for the match.

The final scores were: Landrum 215,807, including 1163, 490, 145, 222 on .Saturday; Newman 24,436, including 1-19, 278 and 290 on Saturday. The Dublin match between .Toe Davis (British champion) and Clark Mconaeliy (New Zealand) resulted in a win for Davis by 23,408 to 23,309. Davis’ score yesterday included 1.01, 411 and 122, and MeConachv’s included a 125.

A tremendous burst, of cheering from a packed house on Friday evening signalised that Lindrum after an hour’s play with consecutive breaks of 473 and 982 has taken the lead. Liudrum had proved his superlative qualities in the afternoon when, showing his usual powers of recovery, made almost anything seem possible. Within twenty minutes he scored 500.