BILLIARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17523, 5 July 1917, Page 2

BILLIARDS.

BILLIARD DINING TABLE TOUKNA-

MENT.

The above tournament was continued in Messrs Alcock »nd Co.'s Showrooms on Monday and Tuesday evening, when some interesting gainos wero witnessed. In the gamo P. L. Davies (rec." 60)'v. J - . A. Immmis (rec. 10), Davies rah out an easy winner, scoring his 250 points when L'unimis was only 143. The game be'ween I. Seay and another was won very easily by tho former player, the final scores reading:—Seay 250, Another 164. In the game J. S. Gray (rec. 80) v. Chwles Shaw (owe 30), Grav showed greatly improved form, and led at one stage of the game by 110 points, but good breaks of 33, 31, 26 by Shaw then brought the scores fairly even. Gray eventually made his 250 when Shaw was 203. Tho game H. J. Co'.lins (rec. 15) v. G. Mulcock (rec. 65), was uninteresting, and with tho exception of one break by Collins of 33, neither player showed anything like hia true form. The second round will bo continued next week, when the following games will be plnved:— „...». / Monday, Julv 9, 7 p.m.—P. L. Davies (rec. 60) v. W. J. Henry (scratch 1 !; 8 p.m.—L. J. Taylor (owo 50) v. E. H. Mather (rec. 80); 9 p.m.—W. Vaughan (owe 70) v. "W. N. Seay (rec. 70). Wednesday, July 11, 7 p.m.—D. Marquot (owe 20) v. Billiards (owe 20); 8 p.m.—G. Exton (owe 50) v. S. Branch (scratch).

GEORGE GRAY. An exhibition match was played at the Grand Billiard Rooms last evening between George Gray, who can claim to rank among tho most famousP players ox the world, and Lieutenant H. Shanks, a local amateur. There was a very largo attendance. Gray conceded his opponent 250 in a gamo of 600. Both started indifferently, but the champion recovered himself first, end, aided by nice breaks of 105 and 58, ho was soon cioso to his opponent. Shanks made 22 on two different occasions, but his best breaks of 40 and 36 were made almost wholly off the red. Gray continued to pile up the points, and breaks of 104, 33, 37 and 35 unfinished saw him gaining his 600 with his opponent's score at 476. His play was always interesting on account of its variety. Tho losing hazard into tho middle "pocket, the shot that brought him into world-wide prominence, was used but incidentally, preference being given to an all-round exhibition in which the top of the table gamo was skilfully demonstrated. His accurato striking of tho losing hazard into the top pockets, long jennies, 'delicately-judged screws and clever use of the masse shot inada a gumo that appealed strongly to tho spectators. A snooker match followed, in which he conceded Lieutenant Shanks three blacks. In pdaition to .his hand.cup, ho gave a.vuy 17 during tho game, and found a snooker necessary to win, with two balls left on the table. This he succeeded in getting, eventually winning by 82 to 76. A number of exhibition shots by Gray, in which the masse played a prominent part, and some good advice to amateurs concluded an interesting- ovening.