Billiards

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 15

Billiards

Charlie Mommott and E. J. Campbell are playing a match of 8000 up for the Victorian championship and .£IOO. At latest Memmott had a slight lead.

Inman mnst have rememberd his visit to Australia with pleasure, for he has had his son christened Sydney Melbourne Inman.

On his arrival in England L indr tun intends-to ■challenge Gray to a match of 16,000 up for <£2oo a side. Ho also intends to have a try for the English championship in April.

After Lindrum's crushing defeat of Reeoe in Melbourne tho latter deplored the fact that the Australian should have devoted his attention to playing the red loser at the expense of his all-round game. In the Sydney match Lin drum abandoned the hazard stroke, an<L playing Reece at his own game, again won handsomely. The match must have been a very interesting one to witness, tho players passing and repassing each, other continually, but Lindrum was always a littlo too good -for tho Englishman. One break of 314 by Reeco was scored in 2J minutes. Prank Smith, junr., has challenged Reece to a snooker match for ,£SO a side, tho best of twenty-one games. Reece, however, wanted odds, but the, match has been made. Smith also challenged Lindrum. but the latter declined. It look's as though Smith must be “hot stuff” as a. winning hazard etroker. Pine shots are the bete noir of tho amateur, as a general thing; and no strokes were moro appreciated by the big crowds that viewed each session of the Reece-Lmdxum game (writes “Snooker”). Some of tho, skinning strokes mado by the visitor were Gain Hertzian in their cleverness, and hie admirers claim that the redoubtable Tarmy can hit a ball so fine or ' tilin’' that the ordinary observer would imagine the object had been missed. It is asserted “that if the balls were placed across tho ' table in line, with only, a sheet of paper separating each, that Reece could take the centre ball a foot away and fire through the opening without disturbing the stationary spheres, so accurate is his sight and so firm his cue arm. He oertaiuly can skin a ball finer than any player wo have seen in Sydney, but whether he is equal to tho above claim is open to question. The modern craze, for barring any particularly successful shots, such, for instance, as tho spot stroke, tho cradle cannon, and the red loser, has moved “Punch” to publish the following: Prom the "Sportsman” of 1931 —“The match between Mr Percy Plump and Herr Hans Kartoflleu for the world's championship, which 1 begins at Widnes on February. 3rd, will bo played under the new regulations. That, is to say, with tho circular tabic, the oblique pockets. and the diminished red.- It,.- is, by the way, whispered in certain circles that Mr Plump has been elaborating a new stroke off the bunker guarding the centre pocket which may cause trouble. Herr KartoHlen has lodged a 1 protest against the extension of the baulk, pointing out—not without reason —that, being a man of small stature, 1 it.is almost impossible for him to play from behind the popping crease without- the, use of the long rest. There is something, we think, to be said, on both sides of this question. Much interest is manifested in the probable effect of the two new regulations—that which days down that every stroke shall include a cannon off tho red, and that which compels the player to us* both ends of the cue alternately. It is hoped that they will not .so far reduce the scoring as to cause anv further marked curtailment in the leisure of tho performer who is not in play. The old custom of paying a visit to the Continent has already fallen into desuetude, but short, trips to British beauty spots should still -be possible. The table will be tilted, as is customary, at an angle of. 13 degrees.”

Many are called, and few are found not bluffing.

The best way to acquire popularity is to entertain friends’ flattering opinions, of themselves.

It is probable that a cinematograph film will be taken by West’s and Royal Pictures of the combined harrier clubs’ run at the Hutt to-day, and it will be screened at the harrier night at the King's Theatre on July 18th.