BILLIARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13499, 28 May 1907, Page 6

BILLIARDS.

STEVENSON IN AUCKLAND. The spacious 'seating-accommodation provided at the Eoyal Albert Hall for the matches to be played by the world's champion, Mr. H. W. Stevenson, was taxed to its utmost last evening. The champion, on" coming to the table, received a great ovation, and "from the opening "miss" by his opponent, Mr. Jackson, quickly compiled a pretty break of : 45. . A couple of cannons by Jackson were immediately followed by a splendid 109 top of the table break from Stevenson's, cue, reducing consider-! ably the start of 600 in 1000, which he was] conceding. A run of 21 by Jackson calledj forth a6l break to Stevenson's credit. In the next three cues "Jackson added '■■to: his total, and letting. Stevenson in from; a difficult hazard, the visitor was again at the spot end, and occupied the table for the next seven minutes, during which he put together a faultless break of 137. Jack-j son's next cue produced 17, Stevenson responding with 87. At this stage the local! man settled down to his work, and made a; nice run of 40, against 28 from the visitor's next cue. At the interval the scores stood, Stevenson 506, Jackson 729. In the second half of the game Stevenson gained"witli deadly certainty, and with breaks of 82, 81, 74, 60, 51, 30' and a pretty unfinished 52, .ran out a, winner by. 87 points. Jackson's next best effort; was .39. 'lhe\winner's average was 27.5, .against Jackson's o.

Since his last visit to Auckland . four years ago* Mr. Stevenson has made rapid progress in his top-ef-ihe-t able play, where most of his scoring, is how made with surprising ease and speed. [■ At the conclusion of the .match, the visitor interested: the large audience; with .an exhibition-, of fancy shots, and gave 'a'' darn'oastratiop- of the famous , "cradle, cannon." , This shot Mr. Stevenson could have actually secured in his break of. 137, but although lie had the balls in perfect position, he refrained from playing it during the game. . He later satisfied the "curiosity of the spectators by making an unfinished break of 140 by cradle cannons, in the space of one minute and four seconds, with the balls in their original position. The entertainment given by this wizard of the green "cloth lasted two hours. • \ "

To-night Mr. Stevenson commences, a match with the local professional, B. Ford, who receives a start of .1100 in 2000 up. As Mr. Ford is a recognised losing .hazard player, an 'opportunity will be given of comparing this style of; play against, Mr. Stevenson's top of the table position. ;•