AMATEUR BILLIARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19730, 1 September 1927, Page 14

AMATEUR BILLIARDS.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. WIN FOR H. F. VALENTINE. The third game in the first round of the Auckland provincial amateur billiards championship for the Billiards Limited Shield was played last evening. H. F. Valentine was opposed by W. Martin, the Y.M.C.A. s representative, who was making his debut in the local championships. In being drawn ngainst a player of Valentine's ability he was set a severe task, but he acquitted him self very creditably. Martin was the first to get going, and playing the, red ball weil he compiled a splendid break of 64 at his seventh visit to the table, thus gaining a good lead from Valentine, who had taken an unusually long time to settle down. Martin continued to score freely and he reached the century mark when his opponent's score was 30. Valentine then got going, and by means of all-round play he added breaks of 23 and '25, thus decreasing his opponent's lead. A change of safety play followed and the result was that Valentine added a 20 break to his score. A little later ho put on an attractive break of 54, made mostly by losing hazards, and gained the lead for the first time in the game. Martin, however, passed the two hundred mark first, by mentis of a 37 break made mostly by losing hazards. Valentino replied with a beautifully compiled all-round break of 52, including a few nursery cannons. An overscrew by Martin proved costly, ns his opponent, took advantage of the good leave and rattled up » 32 break. Another mistake by Martin resulted in Valentine adding a run of over thirty. At this stage Valentine had a lead of 50 odd, but his opponent, playing determinedly, made a useful hazard break of 33. Valentine was playing at his best now and quickly gained a good lead by means of breaks of 49 and 27. running to points a few cues later. Valentine played an attractive game and m the latter stages was very consistent. Hp mixed his game well. Up to the three hundred mark Martin played" a great game, and it was only that ho lacked match experience he failed over the last two hundred. The final scores were: T:f. F. Valentine, 500. Breaks, 23. 25. 20, st. 52. 32. 31, 49 and 27: average, 9.95. W. Martin, 329. Breaks. 20. 04. 37 arid 3R: average*. 6. Twilight Fi. .T. Morrison will play F. Lovelock