Billiards.

Otago Witness, Issue 1582, 18 March 1882, Page 14

Billiards.

The great billiard match on January 16th, 17th, and 18th, at the Palais Royal, Argyll street, for £1000, between J. Roberts, jun., and W,. Cook, the latter receiving 500 points in 5000, is from many points of view perhaps the most important game ever played on the board ofjthe green cloth. It is certain that never before have two such splendid cueists been seen opposed" to each othor in so long a game s and for more than 12 years the relative merits pf Cook and Roberts have been open to argument and never fairly settled. It was always a question which was the better of the pair, although to all those who have carefully watched the play of the two men, Roberts' superiority has generally been acknowledged. The question has now been satisfactorily decided, and for the first time for 13 years Cook has been conceded a start, and what is more, beaten. Considering the calibre of the men, on the first day at least neither showed very brilliant execution, although Roberts at, the end of the evening was withhv6l of his opponent, and in the middle of a break. Up to this time Roberts' best breaks hald been 132, 135, and 219; Cook's chief effort being 111. The odds of 11 to Bon Rpberts now looked fully justified, as he brought up his score to 1668 to Cook's 1729. On Tuesday, up to ' the interval, Roberts seemed to go all to pieces, and Cook, whose best break was only 118, at 2481 was within 144 points of his original start of 500. Roberts then came odt in his most brilliant form, and with 167, , 24JL, 88, and in spite of 153 from Cook, closed up; to 2726 against 2788, and then with three* rapidly played breaks- of 221,- 219, 132, passed to" the front at 3005, although' Cook had put together 200 ( (61 spots) in the meanwhile ; and finally at jbhe, close of the game for the evening, R'dberts score stood 3335 to Cook's 3037, Rpbertftliaving totalled 1200 in 1 hour 58 mm. against ,476. made by. Cook in the same time. Inj this part of the game a finer exhibition of play on the part of Roberts has never been witnessed'. 1 ' On the concluding day of the match, ' Wednesday, Roberts, if anything, eclipsed himself. ' In one hour from commencing he, with the aid of 148, 430 (5, 11, and 107 spots),' and 135, scored 856 points while Cook wss making 156, the score at the interval being Rpberts 4174, Cook, 3193. After the interval Roberts again dashed away at express speed, aijd finally with a 345 (111 spots), 135, and 183, won, .the match by no less than 1658 points, Cook's total standing at 3342. The rapidity of Roberts' play can' be gathered from the fact ,tHat' on the last day he altogether scored' 1665 pdints in 2 his. 4 mm., while in the same time Cpok ,oply put together 305. ' The whole, game "lafet'ed 9 hrs. 47 mm. Prom the interval on Tuesday night Roberts' play could scarely have been improved, but even then he occasionally exhibited' his old carelessness, which Beveral times spoilt a break. Cook has evidently gone off, was ,badly out of f prm, and had none the best o£:tho luck.