THE BILLIARD MATCH FOR FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS A SIDE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 206, 6 August 1862, Page 5

THE BILLIARD MATCH FOR FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS A SIDE.

_ As our account of the Match in yesterday's issue was necessarily somewhat hurried, and as on account of the interest taken in it we were unable to supply by some hundreds of copies the demand for papers, we now produce a fuller account of it. The match we believe/ is for the largest sum that ever a game of billiards was played for. A few remarks on the general features of the match may not be uninteresting. It was a great mistake to choose so cold a building as the Theatre to have played in. The night was particularly chi'ly, and both players and lookers-on were subjected to a considerable amount of discomfort. We believe the game would have been over at least two hours sooner had the room been warmer. It Avas only during the last few hundred that the combatants; seemed to find in the interest of the game that amount of caloric that certainly was not to be found in the building. During the breaks the non-players either stuffed their hands in their pockets, or tried the effect of friction. In the intervals between every two hundred and fifty, we fancy they rushed off to the fire in the adjoining hotel. Another effect of the cold was to make the board remarkably dead. This, of course, misled the players and made the game much longer than it otherwise would have been. The reserved seats—the entrance to which was two guineas—had about thirty occupants; the boxes—tho tickets to which were one guinea—were tolerably well filled.

Although Mr. Lamb had the lead throughout the game, and won by eighty-five points,in some respects he was by no means the better player In point of style and execution he was generally considered inferior to Mr. Townsend, but in judgment, or we may say ia generalship, h e showed himself the superior. He rarely tried for difficult strokes, an I shewed great skill in bringing the balls into position for scoring off. On the othef hand Mr. Townsend rarely missed the difficult strokes he tried rfor, but was less successful, as a rule in bringing the balls together. His breaks were generally a series of brilliant strokes. Perhaps a great deal of the difference in play is to be explained by the fact, that Mr. Lamb seemed to understand the strength of the table better than his adversary. A<s far as the strength was concerned, the practice of the week previous must rather have deceived tlie players than otherwise, as owing to the coldness ofthe building tlie table was not nearly so fast as it waa in*the room where it was previously stationed. Mr. Townsend played with very ill luck, and too much praise cannot be given him for the " plucky" manner in which, throughout, he fought an uphill game. Towards the end, when hia chance seemed hopeless, he pulled up astonishingly, aud certainly seemed to play better at the finish than at the commencement. His adversary, on the oMier hand, seemed rather tired, although he was not slow to take advantage ofthe openings* left him m the last two breaks, by which he won the game. To sum up, although, Mr. Lamb is the more steady and experienced match-player, and possessed of better judgment and greater generalship; yet, with a foster table, and an equal share of good luck, it is quite likely that Mr. ToAvnsend's superior execution and more skilful play Avould make him the Avinner. Wo subjoin an amended account of the game, a portion of Avhich appeared in our issue of yesterday. We have giA'en a very full account of the last hour and a halfs play, as that stage of the game was the most exciting and interesting. For the guidance of the reader Aye may explain that the mark — signifies when no score Avas made. Bearing in mind that Mr. Townsend had the break, Avhen our detailed score of the game commences, the reader will be able to see every stroke that was played during the most interesting part of the contest.

On Monday evening the Royal Princess Theatre was converted forthe nonce into a gigantic billiard room, the theatre having been engaged for the great match between Mr. Lamb, of Victoria, and Mr. ToAvnsend, a gentleman amateur of this Province. Great interest had been excited, from the known proficiency of both id ayers, and about 100 persons assembled in the theatre to witness the play. The table was erected on the pit floor, and the other parts of the house Avere appropriated to the spectators. A number of chairs were also placed in the pit round the table. At twenty-five minutes past eight o'clock the veteran player, Mr Lamb, made his appearance, and his antagonist being already in the room, they proceeded at once to string for tlie break, Avhich Avas Avon by Mr. Lamb. At half-past eight o'clock the game commenced, Mr. Lamb playing off Avith a miss in baulk. Mr. Townsend gave a miss, playing his ball Aveli under the right hand cushion. The first score Avas made by Mr. Lamb, by a clever cannon, leaving an easy red hazard for the middle pocket, but Avhich he missed. Mr. Townsend then went in and scored eight, leaving the balls Avell together, but finished his first break by missing an easy cannou. Mr. Lamb, with a good cannon, brought the balls into a good position, and making a losing, hazard off the red, aftenvards made up his score to 19. Mr. ToAvnsend then Avent in for 3, and missing a red Avinning hazard again handed the game to his antagonist, who making a good cannon, and a Avhite losing hazard, brought up his game to 23. At this time the game hung considerably, both players frequently missing comparatively easy strokes, and making but trifling scores, leaving the game at a quarter to nine o'clock, Lamb, 41; Townsend, 16, Mr. Lamb playing. Mr. Lamb failed to continue his score, and both players dodged about for safety. Mr. ToAvnsend, by a cannon, brought the balls Avell together, and an excellent break was left ; but owing to a little over strength, he missed a rather easy losing hazard, off the red into the left hand top corner pocket. For a succession of strokes neither players succeeded in accomplishing any particular advantage, and an amusing intciTal of clever sparring took place, each player giving a succession of safe misses. At this stage the game stood, Lamb, 45 ; Townsend, 24 ; the red ball being Avell under the top cushion, and the play balls close to the cushion near the side pockets. Mr. Townsend Avas the first to play off, but made no score ; Mr. Lamb followed, making a good losing hazard off the red, making his game 50 ; and after pocketing his adversary's ball, he made a Aery clc\-er double baulk. Mr. ToAvnsend still had nothing left, and Mr. Lamb then scored 7, and at 9 o'clock the game stood Lamb 62, Townsend 27. Mr. Lamb then made three good hazards off the white, into the left hand corner pocket, and afterwards a splendid winning red hazard bringing his score up to 71. The game then proceeded—Townsend, 2; Lamb, 4; Townsend, 4; Lamb, 0; Townsend, 6; leaving the ball over the middle pocket. Mr. Lamb making a losing hazard, brought his adversary's ball just over the baulk line, off which he succeeded in making fiA re very elegant and dexterous losing hazards into the left hand corner pocket. | Unfortunately not touching the ball, his sixth attempt failed, and he Avent out after a break of 12. The game now stood S7 to 42, and the score languished for some time, as follows ; Lamb, 2 ; Townsend 2; when Lamb made a break of 24, ths game standing at quarter past nine o'clock. Lamb, 106 ; Townsend, 44. The game proceeded—Townsend, 5 ; Lamb, 6 ; Townsend, 3; Lamb, 2; Townsend, 6; Townsend, 2-2; Lamb, 8; Townsend, 12; the game being at half past nine—Lamb, 129; Townsend, 78. Mr. Lamb then made a break of 15 ; followed by Mr. Townsend with a good screw for 3; afterwards giving a safe miss, the balls being iv line. The game again flagged, both players losing good chances. Mr. Townsend made a red losing

hazard into the middle pocket, leaving an excellent break, but which he failed to take advantage of. Mr. Lamb fluked a cannon, and each gave safo misses. The game proceeded by a series of short scores, until a quarter to ten, when the game stood—Lamb 170, Townsend 93; Mr. Townsend playing, making a break of 5, followed by Mr. Lamb, Avho gaA'e safe misses. Mr. Lamb then scored 5, 4, 10, leaving the red ball close to the bottom cushion, about a foot off the left hand pocket, Mr. Townsend's ball being below the middle right hand pocket. Mr. Townsend here accomplished a very brilliant stroke, running through the red ball into the pocket, leaving an easy cannon afterwards. The game then stool Lamb 191, Townsend 108. Considerable by-play now took place, and af ten o'clock the game was Lamb 195, Townsend 115. The game then proceeded—Townsend s, Lamb 10, Townsend 12, both playing more carefully. Mr, Lamb then fluked 2, and brought both balls into baulk ; and afterwards scored 5, 2, tlie game standing at a quarter past ten o'clock—Lamb 212, Townsend 148. The score then proceeded—Townsend 3, 2, Lamb 7, Townsend 9, Lamb 2, Townsend 6, Lamb 5, Townsend 5, Lamo 4, ToAvnsend 4, Lamb 2, Townsend 3, Lamb 2, bringing the game at half-past ten up to 244 against 184, Mr. Lamb in hand, Avho, by a succession of clever strokes scored 7, 8, when both players took a few minutes' rest, the score being—Lamb 259, Townsend 184. •

After a short rest the game was resumed Avith various succjss to both players, until Mr. Toavhsend made, at half-past eleven o'clock, a splendid break of 48, bringing his score up to 259 to Lamb's 297. The latter gentleman by judicious strength kept the balls in good positions, and brought the game to 323 to Mr, Townsend's 259, Avhen Mr. Townsend missed scoring several times, but after two small breaks brought his score up to 277, Mr. Lamb then being 352, scoring in his last break 19 off the balls. After some alternate strokes, each scoring a few, Mr. Townsend scored 22 off the balls, making his score 317; but in spite of very gallant efforts he was unable to reduce the distance between himself and his opponent. At 12 o'clock tho game stood—Mr. Townsend 325, and Mr. Lamb 399, During the next quarter of an hour both gentlemen displayed great caution, each giving several misses. At 12.15 the game stood— Mr.Townsend 344, and Mr, Limb 425, the hitter gentleman bringing his score up to that amount by a break of 17 During the next quarter of an hour Mr. Townsend! gained ground considerably, making 42 iv four consecutive breaks. Mr. Lamb, during the same period only scored 18. At 12.30 the score was Mr. Townsend 394 to Mr Lamb 443. During the next quarter of an hour Mr. Townsend made most of the play, and Avith a pretty little break of 18, brought his score up to 451," to Mr. Lamb 473. During that space of time no fewer than 14 misses Avere given, 8 by Mr. Townsend, and 6 by Mr. Lamb. Mr.Townsend 451, and Mr Lamb 473 Avasthe state of tho game nt 12.45. During the following quarter of an hour, Mr. Lamb increased his lead, scoring 30 in two breaks. Mr Townsend very unfortunately slipped his cue an 1 left an easy cannon for his opponent. Between 12 45 and 1 o'clock, Mr. Townsend scored 27 and Mr. Lamb 42. when the game stood—Mr. Townsend 478 to Mr. Limb 515. There wa? now an interval of about a quarter of an hour. At half-past 1 the game stood—Lamb 539 Townsend 504, with a good break left, but having succeeded in making 2, missing an easy red hazard. Lamb then Avent injand playing much more carefully, brought his score up "to 548 to his opponents 510. At this stage Mr. Townsend got into excellent play, and after a succession of good breaks he brought his score up to 549 to his opponent's 567. The game now became much more exciting, tliere being an evident impression that Mr. Townsend Avould soon reduce the difference between the players to nil, but he unfortunately left another opening lor his antagonist, which Mr. Limb did not fail to take advantage of, and at two o'clock the game Avas called—Lanlb 599,Townsend 578. From this time Limb kept a good lead, m iking a series of good breaks, and increasing his score over Mr Townsend at a quarter past two, to 61, the numbers being Lamb 647, Townsend 586. This advantage Mr. Lamb continued to maintain, the score at half past two o'clock being Lamb 691, Townsend 617. Lamb continued to play carefully, and Mr. Townsend male several very accomplished strokes, but the balls broke badly for him, and at quarter to three the marker called the game, Lamb 718, Townsend 619. The score then presented — Lamb. Townsend--718 649 651 653 055 720 goo I cannon * 722 653 COO 662 724 727 605 729 731 7J13 735 ". 738 710 742 744 746 749 751 667 609 754 756 758 700 7G2 705 At this stage (3 o'clock) the players rested for another " spell," Mr. Lamb's ball being over tho top corner pocket—red ball, centre of the tableMr. Townsend's ball a little below the centre pocket. At twenty-tAvo minutes past 3 o'clock the play Avas resumed, the scores standing, Lamb, 765 ; Townsend, 669 ; the latter player having the break. The game then proceeded with the folloAving result:— Lamb. Townsend. ••• — missed easy red hzd. 708 red losing hzd. m. p. ... 770 white 1. hzd. m. p, 774 holed both balls _ miss in balk 670 775 misa ••• 672 white 1. hzd. b. cor. 776 misa 780 holed both balls T. miss in baulk 673 781 miss — no score, ply. safe — ply. safe — missed easy cannon 675 white 1. hzd. b. cor. - - niissod ea?y cannon miss 676 mis 3 677 ••• 680 holed red wg. hzd. — balls kissed — 682 1. hzd. top corner 685 do. 687 cannon 690 1. hzd. top corner ... 692 cannon 783 cannon 785 1. white hzd. t. cor. 789 holed both balls miss in baulk 693 790 miss — playing for safety 792 I. hzd. bettom corner ... 795 do 798 do 800 cannon 695 cannon £01 misi ,03 cannon £05 holed white — missed red, w. hzd. SOS red I. hzd. top corner ... 810 good 1. hzd. m. pekt. .. — playing for safety ! ■•• 607 white wg. hzd. 818 red w. hzl. 816 do. 81© Lhzd.

822 hzd. top corner ... •* 680 cannon 702 red w. hzd. b. corner 824 white w. hzd. -missed white L hzd. I — beautiful baulk ! '•• 704 cannon B*s 10? d This wai at a quarter to 4 o'clock. — missed scoring — missed red w. hzd. . — ranacoitpintocornerp.7o9 qKA 7121. hzd. bottom corner °f? miss in baulk miss 713 716 red 1. hzd. bot. corner acta ~~ missed easy cannon 828 cannon .. J "~"««* 718 cannon 720 do. — missed cannon . rn'ss 721 — , , . — miased cannon — playing for safety '■■'". , — safety — missed cannon .. 'j- —missed white w. hzd. 830 cannon 833 1. hzd. bottom corner '.'. 836 " middle pkt. 724 1. hzd. bottom corner 726 do. middle pocket 723 cannon 730 do. 732 do. 7351. hzd. top corner 838 cannon 841 1. iv d hzd top corner .] . Miss 73 G '~,,.. — missed cannon — missed red win. hzd. 738 cannon 741 1. h. mid. pocket 743 cannon 745 do. 750 can. and red w. h. 544 fluke -missed white w.h. — missed cannon a:,, ■<— missed red w. h. »4b cannon — safety \\ ;; Q , . . . — missed white w.h. 548 losing hazard 850 beautiful cannon 832 do. 854 do. 7. At four o'clock the game stood ta abave—Bs4 to 75 0 752 good cannon, object— balls on opposite cu*hions above the mid jiocket, players ball nearly under top cush. cannoned off oue csh. 755 losing hazard 758 do. 761 good winning h. 703 cannon 765 losing hazard | — 767 fluke 770 losinj; hazard • • 773 red winning b. nma 774 misa 775 — , , , , — missed 1. hzl. — played to hole w. and cannon, missed both— .. very easy stroke • * . . — missed cannon — missed cannon • • . —do. 855 losing hzd. .. 860 cannon 866 splendid double hzd 868 cannon — missed an eaay stroke ... • • 777 1. hid. 780 do. • • 782 cannon • • — missed easy 1. hzd. o/O cannon 873 losing hzd. .. 875 elegant cannon 878 red w. hzd. 785 red w. hzd. 788 L hzd. 790 cannon 7921. hzd. 795 red w. hzd. 798 good 1. hzd. 801 red w. hzd. 803 cannon — very bad stroke 8811, hzd. ~~ 883 do. 805 cannon 807 1. hzd. 809 cannon •• v 8121. hzd. 814 do. 816 cannon 818 do. 8211. hzd. 8-23 cannon 8261. hzd. mid pocket capital screw (cheers) 8291, hzd. ■» 832redw, hzd. °°y — Bhpt cue ran a coup nusa 833 • • 836 red w. hzd. 887 miss 18391. hzd. 891 cannon 894 red w. hzd. 8961. hzd. ;;; 898 cannon "* 838 cannon 840 cannon 9011.1*1. -«"PPed cue 903 cannon 905 do " 908 Lhzd. 910 w. w. hzd. ~ — safety — missed eaay hzd. At half past four the game stood Lamb 910, Townaend 840. 843 fluke 845 cannon 847 1. hzd. 850 do. 853 do. 855 cannon , — missed eaay hzd. 858 1. hzd 914 good dble. hzd. ~ Miss 859 915 Miss — safety 916 Miss Miss 860 862 a splendid caanoa • 804 1. hzd. 866 do. 918 fluke TT 869 L hzd* • • 872 do. 019 miss — safety 921 cannon This was at 4.45 a.m., game then stood:—Lamb. 921; Townsend, 872. 924 Lhzd.; 926 cannon 9281. hzd. QSII. hzd. ~ q33 cannon [][ 874 cannon ••• 877 wing. hzd.

lamb. Townsend. •• 870 cannon 882 winng. h?d. 884 cannon 886 I. hzd. 838 do. £90 cannon 892 white winng. hzd. — good baulk nusa 893 miss 894 935 good 1. hzd. 937 spld. 1. lizd-, mid. pkt. ... 039d0. 941 1. hzd. 945 cannon&white, w. hzd.. 948 splendid I. hzd. — played for a baulk,butc- ftleft his ball outside? y ° miss 895 950 white wng. hzd. miss 897 951 miss 8991. hzd. 9531. hzd. ~ 955 cannon 958 re 1 w. hzd. 960 cannon 963 1. hzd. 965 cannon 968 1. hzd. 970 cannon , .* 972 do. 974 do. ! — —. — missed easy bzd. nuss 900 0031. hzd. ••• 905 cannon .. * 907 do — » 9101. hazard — missed cannon 913 red w. hazard 915 cannon ••;., . — missed easy 1. bzd. 9/6 I. hazard 979 do. 982 do. ;;; 984 cannon 9SGI. hazard "'. 983 1. hzd. b. corner ~ 990 cannon 993 red winning hzd. 996 red 1. hazanl 998 white do. 1000 losing hazard

In his last break Lamb easily scored out, the game standing—Lamb 1000, ToAvnsend 915. The game was concluded at ten minutes past five o'clock. The victor was loudly cheered, and Mr. Townsend was also applauded. Tbe latter part of the game Avas remarkably well.played on both sides; in fact it is difficult to say Avhich player shoAved the most skill.