BILLIARDS

NZ Truth, Issue 605, 20 January 1917, Page 11

BILLIARDS

. _-__♦ — . '. ... (By "Spider") Falkiner, with a start of idoo points m 10,000 up, managed to scrape home a winner by the small but useful margin of 194 points. It was a grand game right through, m which Newman got his nose m front at half-way stage but, by the brilliant play of the Wost of England champion, ho was deposed until at the olose of tho second last session (Saturday, afternoon), he once again took the lead at 15,336-15,265, Things now looked very serious for Fa^kiner, especially as Newman opened the final session by carrying his unfinished 41 to a total of 197. Right hero Falkiner showed his pluck by countering with an admirably played 314; he lost the white ball at 08, and continued on tho red ball. This was a staggerer for Nowman, but ho or en ted much enthusiasm by landing a lovely 183. However, Falkiner gave the young Londoner another nasty Jar m the oompllatlon of a rattling 272, and was making matters so warm for Newman that he quite forgot tho bleak winds that wero whistling through the hall m Leices-ter-square. He, • however, created much excitement m bringing off v well-plnyed 108, which wns his iinal strokft In tho game, as Falklnor, getting the balls running nicely, proceeded straight to game with a faultless 182, accompanied by an ovation from tho big crowd present, m which his rival ahnrod. Falklnor scored his last 725 nt thu ruto of 122 points per Inning, while Newman had tho remarkable avoragtt of 78 for 408. Final scores: C. Falklnor 16,000, T. Newman 15,804. Fnlkiner's all-round avorago wns 43, while that of Newman was CO%. One stick of Falklner's returned a break' of 640, while the best accredited to Newman was 454.

L . "" 1 Cecil Harverson, on his return t«! • South Africa, was not long before hi 1 proved to his old supporters and 1 others that he w*as still to be considerod with on the green cloth, by beat* ing Prank Forrara for the champion* 1 ship. The final scores wore: Harver,* son, 18,000; Ferraro, 16,887. •At on^ 1 stage of the game Harverson had >ii 1 lend of 2500, but his opponent consid--1 orably reduced this as the scores proydj ■ Another South African, mA. Burt,.wa) of the opinion that ho had a chanci of boating either of these players, bu , a challenge on behalf of Ferrara tt give Burt 5000 m 18,000 for £100 ai side did not bring any response. '• •■•'• ' A Sydney writer on billiards, m re« 1 viewing the play last season, says "One of the surprises of the year wai tho improved form of ono of tho lease; lights of the billiard wprld. W. Abot 1 omey. Placed on a gift mark m the 1 markers' tournament, ho literal^ ■ threw that event away to young Frej ! Weiss m the Una! heat, and a fey weeks afterwards, when placed on thj seemingly, impossible handicap 6 ' 'owes 600,' he won the event straigtt out. So little did ho think of hi 1 chance when the start .appeared tha ' he refused 200 to 1 about it. A fe| weeks after, with «. start of 800 h i 4000, he rather easily defeated Franl ' Smith." Abotomoy* challenged Smlt , for the title of New South Wale , champion, with a wagor of £25. bi tho latter oonsiidored £100 sms enough, and as they could not con: to terms the match fell through." ,•♦ * ] T. W. Dlok, of the Crown Billia^ Club's saloon, Wellington, purpose giving a fine billiard tournament o 300 up m the very near future. TM first prize will bo £5, second £2, thlr £1. The idea Is .a good one, au it! sure to bring most of tho local cuolsl together, and some interesting heal will be witnessed. • • * Many old friends have paid a visit t Dave Pllmer's snug saloon during tli holidays, and the genial Dave has bee kept very busy. This saloon promise to be one of the most favored resovt during the summer, especially for coun try exponents of the game, of whor the worthy Dave has a host o£ ad mirera. :*