BILLIARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13451, 30 May 1907, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

. ~— | FINE EXHIBITION BY STEVENSON. I The billiard match between H. W. Steven- J son, the world's champion, and B. Ford, I the 'ocal professional, in a game of 2000 up; was continued in the Royal Albert Hall last! evening in the presence of a large gather- j ing, which included a few ladies. Steven-1 son was in fine form and gave tho best exhibition of billiards yet seen in Auckland, His play was at times brilliant, especially j his top of the tabic play, in which he excelled last evening. Ho gave a fine all- 1 round exposition of the game. Tho champion had given Ford 11C0 in 2000 up, and play commenced last evening with Stevenson at 1001 and Ford at 1*26. Carrying his unfinished break of 26 to 35, i Stevenson let in Ford at only a cost of three. When coming again to the table Stevenson made a finished break, the finest' display yet seen in Auckland. From play- 1 ing losing hazard ho immediately got to the 1 top of the table, whore ho quickly ran up 154 in tho most approved manner. When ! on a delicate shot Stevenson had tho mis-1 fortune, to lose- the white. Concentrating his effort upon the red ball ho then by a series of losing 1 hazards carried the break j to 281. Ford replied with 29. The champion in turn quickly compiled 57. Ford's I next visit to the table produced a nice break of 4*, but from tho next three cues on the part of each player nothing of importance resulted, but Stevenson's next attempt produced 25. Ford replied in bis fourth cue with 24. The next two visits by each player added nothing to the total, but Stevenson then compiled a fine break of 106, made principally in his favourite position at the top of tho table. At the interval tho scores wero: Stevenson 1530 and' Ford 1578. The champion's first -trial after j the adjournment resulted in 16, Ford re-1 sponding with 28. In the next two cues the visitor added 37 against .the local mail's.! nine. Following this up Stevenson put to I his credit a beautiful brcaf- made at the top of the table of 98. At the early portion of tho break the champion extricated himself from an almost insuperable difficulty by a beautiful massee cannon, which brought forth much deserved applause. Ford in his next cue. put to his credit 29. The champion put on the pace, and in under four minutes, by top of the table play, compiled a break of 93. The local man replied with a break of 41. With 224 to carry him out, Stevenson brought his score- to within six of the 2000. with a I break of 218. A miss by Ford let Stevenson in, and in two shots be made the required I six. . l Mr. Stevenson's average on the first night | was 27,5, on. tho second display 29.5, and last evening his average was 40, as against .fords 10. At the conclusion the champion gave an exhibition of fancy shots, showing 'himsolf a master of. the cue- in every way. Mr. J. Jackson efficiently acted as referee, marker, and scorer. last evening. The champion is to leave on Friday for Wellington.

STEVENSON ENTERTAINED. ~. Mr. Stevenson and a number of ; billiard enthusiasts- were tiro guests of Messrs. Barton and MeGill and Company at a social at the conclusion'of 'the- 'tournament. Mr. Coombes occupied the chair. In' proposing Mr. Stevenson's health ho said the. break of 802 by Stevenson still occupied pride of place. In reply Mr. Stevenson said he was delighted that the exhibition had been a success, and he congratulated the promoters. Periodical visits by a j professional player to tho colonics did much for billiards. (Applause.) They heard about breaks in the | Old Country, but they 'could not realise what they really were until they j saw how; they were made. Regarding the cradle cannon ho'' believed-the. death-knell of that had already been sounded. He did not; think anyone would walk, across the street j to see it. (Hear,* hear.) ''■■>■ It was the same stroke over and over again. The spot stroke was far better to look at. V There were seven or eight strokes in 'that. He could not say tho cradle cannon was entirely ,new- I Mr. W. E. Haekctt appropriately proposed, the toast of t "The ; < Losers','.'*' and Messrs.! Ford and Jackson responded, and also Mr. McGill- • Other toasts wore honoured, 'and" a I musical programme carried out. - •• •'