BILLIARDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19550, 5 August 1925, Page 10

BILLIARDS.

MHONACHY v. TOTHILL. M’Conachy and Tothill continued their match yesterday afternoon. 'the feature of the play was the large number of brilliant strokes which both players executed. It was indeed interesting to watch the rnasterly way in which these artists extricated themselves from what often appeared hopeless positions. Many times the end of a break seemed at hand, but a brilliant screw or a superb masse would bring the halls again into the tip-tapping ' region. During the session M‘Conachy scored 328 to Ins opponent’s 611, his highest break being one of 343. This effort was composed mainly of lop of the table game, which nowadays is his chief scoring method, and at which M‘Con achy has no superior. It seems only yesterday that without the red ball he was lost, ’ibis only goes to show what practice will do for one. Although exceeding the 50 on several other occasions by means of 58, 59, 10, 71, and 91, M’Conachy had only one other century break —namely, 152, compiled near the spot. Tothill found the balls running against him for the first half of the session, but later found his touch and delighted the spectators with a trio of centuries. The highest of these was 175, made in irreproachable stylo, and it was only a bad cover that brought the break to an end. In addition to this break Tothill had a nice varied string of 117, finally bringing about the adjournment with a close cannon break of 115, 44 of these delicate shots springing from his cue. The closing scores read: Tothill (in play) 12,625 M’Conachy 11,208 Both players showed flashes of good form at last night’s session. There was a large attendance of' interested spectators, and the players wore frequently applauded. Tothill added only a few points to his unfinished break, finishing at 119. M’Conachy’s first effort was not very brilliant. Totnall followed with a serviceable break of 64, and the Now Zealander had to be content with four in his next effort, and Tothill with 10, missing a straight pot. MCbnachy compiled 26 in his next strike, principally by potting the red. Tothill failed to add to his score in his next appearance at (he table, and M’Conachy responded with a useful 68. The Englishman’s next strike produced only 15. Ho broke down when attempting a somewhat difficult cannon. M’Conachy scored 42 in his next attempt, just failing to pot the red. Tothill did not shape well when he returned to the table, as he added only six to his score. M’Conachy was seen in one of his master-strokes in his following effort, putting on a break of 367, mainly by cannons at the bottom end of the table. It was the best exhibition of the evening, and the New Zealander was loudly applauded. He broke down on a very easy pot. Tothill’s next effort produced 56. He missed a difficult cannon. M’Conachy followed with a break of 19, and his opponent responded with 13, the Englishman missing an easy cannon. M’Conachy’s following strike produced 21, and Tothill gave one away by leaving the balls safe. The scoring at (his .‘tage was very poor, both players following with twos and fours. Tothill struck form again on his return to the table, finishing with a break of 233, compiled mainly by cannons at the bottom end of the table. His effort was loudly applauded. M’Conachy could not strike form when he returned to the table. He missed an easy shot after compiling 17. Tothill’s following effort was also a poor one, as ho knocked up a bare half-dozen. M’Conachy finished his next break at 49. He missed a somewhat difficult cannon. Tothill, in his next strike, made 54, and his opponent only three. Both players then failed to score, the balls being left at very difficult angles. Tothill responded with 34. He again missed a easy pot. M’Conachy failed in a difficult cushion pot, and finished up with a break of 50. Tothill again struck form when he returned to the table. He gave an all-round exhibition, finishing with a break of 120, The break was characterised by a number of good screwback shots. He broke down on one of these difficult shots. M’Conachy compiled only 22 in his next effort. He attempted a run-through loser, but just missed. Both players scored only half a dozen or so points in the following strike. Tothill’s next effort produced 79 points. Ho gave a good exhibition of run-through shots, and broke down on a very difficult cushion cannon. M’Conachy closed the session with an unfinished break of 59. The day’s play ended with the scores:— Tothill (receives 4000) 15,327 M’Conachy 11,973 The best breaks were: —M’Conachv, 367, 68, 49; Tothill, 119, 64, 56, 235, 64, 120,