SNOOKER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22860, 15 October 1937, Page 18

SNOOKER

AMATEUR TOURNAMENT Tho Auckland provincial amateur snooker championship for the Billiards, Limited, Cup was continued last evening at Messrs. Billiards, Limited, showrooms, when a largo gathering witnessed tho semi-finals. C. Spencer defeated R. Anderson by two games to one, while T. Tierney defeated E. C. Sutton by two straight games. Two brilliant winning hazard players in R. Anderson and C. Spencer, last year's runnor-up, met in the first contest. Spencer openod the scoring by potting a red and a black, and his opponent obtained u similar colour soon afterwards. Neither player took unduo risks. Spencer had slightly tho better of tho game when tho final round of {.he colours commenced and ho increased his lead so that Anderson required a snooker with tho last four colours left on the table. Spencer potted tho brown and blue and finally won by 03 points to 23. Spencer commenced the second game by getting tho blue. Both players had to figh't hard to get their points, as the positions generally were rather difficult. Anderson displayed great accuracy in potting two rods and two pinks, and a red and a brown wore pottod at his next visit to tho tablo. Spencer drew level at 19 by also potting the brown. With fewer balls left on the table the play became more open and somo splendid potting resulted. After the scores were level at 28, Anderson gained a load of llpoints with the pool balls remaining. Anderson potted the yellow and greon, whilo Spencer gained tho brown, blue and pink. Andorson potted the black and won a splendid game by 53 points to 40.

Contrary to expectations, the deciding gamp was fairly open, with Sponcer taking the lead in tho early stages. Bour penalties against Anderson cost him 10 points, and soon aftor two snookers against him cost another JO points. Anderson required all the colours t*> tie at this stago. Spencer maintained his advantage and won by 80 points to 88. Tho Sutton-Tierney gamo openod sensationally with a well-executed break of five black* by Tierney. Another black was attained by this player soon aftorwards. Sutton, who was unperturbed by tho brilliant play of his op ponent, played very steadily and rarely missed opportunities. Tho balls ran favourably for 'liernoy over tho concluding stages of the game, and accurate potting gained him the gamo by 80 points to 30. Sutton gained a slight lead in tho second game. Tierney, however, gave a pleasing display in a break of 3'2. Steady play by Sutton and soveral well-played snookers reduced Tier ney's lead coHsuforably, and Sutton was in a position to win with the last four balls. Tierney, in fluking the brown, made it necessary for Sutton to get a snooker and the last three balls to win. Tierney, however, potted the pink to win by 50 points to 42. C. Spencer will play T. Tierney in the final to-night at 7.45 o'clock. The open snooker championships will be commenced on Monday.