BILLIARDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1838, 11 February 1887, Page 22

BILLIARDS.

The spot-barred match, in which John Robert.3 endeavoured to concede 5000 start in 12,000 up to Alfred Bennett, of Manchester, ended in the defeat of the champion by 275 points. - Bennett is a very deliberate and careful player, an'l, ■ although he did not show, any vory brilHant . form, h* s-ldom took up his cue without scoring, his' victory being due to the conMstency of his play rather tbau to aity big breaks. His only rung of over 100 were 138; 132 and 109. Roberts, as qsual, made a number of magnificent, .breaks, a Jar'geV. number than usual bning over 200, but he was' out of form in tbe middle of the week, altljougb. he marie a bolt struggle, for victory on the Friday and ' Saturday. His thr^e-figura breaks numbered 29, the chief of them tx-ing ' 353, 351, 347, 288, 252, 249, 220, and 214. Saturday's play'was resumed from the overnight record of— Bennett, 10,568; Roberts, 8931. In the afternoon Roberts put together breaks of 31, a magnificent 351 (including runs of 27, 17. aud 11 close cannons), 178, 121. 51. 60, and f>7;

and Bennett, who started slowly, made 46, 32, Si; 20, 90, 61, and 20— the totals at the adjournment standing at 11,081 to 9028 in favour uf the Manchester player. Thus Bennett had added .513 while Roberts was scoring 977-. -In the evehinjr, therefore, Roberts wanted ntf fewer than- 2072,"a»d 'Bennett 919. This task proved too mu6h forthe champion, although he played np ppiendidlyyand maf?e.breafeß of 249, 44,. 8.% 83,-136, 33; 61, 84, 131, 56, HQ, 149, and -61,

39, 38, 88,' 22, 33, 22, and 25. . The final totals we're^enneti, 12,000 ; Roberta, 11V72j5. ! We' may,, be wrong,' but .we fancy the champion is pla>iiig just a little bit nt»w/, aud no wohder, j afrer tnVbaid Work' of the present season. ;At j times he U better than .ever,*But 1 l»te1y, in the middle of thejiveek, Jits' has goue'off in a rao»t unafcountable r inanner ; h'w strength has beeif faulty-,' bin I- he has completely inirsed some C6niparatiwly, easy shots. He is paid to be going to take » rebt when the New War has turned, and it will doubilw» btfUf-fit bim.gieatly. ■ j,,-< '- At. the VVe«tmin>ter Aquauum W. J. Peall has given a.remarkabje exhibition" of the spOtbtrpke, Originally t it: had. bem arranged for t.'t»ok,to play IxVqll at the spot-barred gamn, bjutthe former wa« Hufferiiig from, a strained wrist-, and accordingly Collins, wan Peall's opponent, in. .an all T in match, Peall giving 4000 points jstart in 12,000 up..; Some idea of » the scratch man's play may be gathered from tlie following figurea, which hhow his principal breaks t 1729 (runs of 108, 275, anc|,,liß3, spots), 10*7 "(338. .fipots), '840 • (235 spot"), 819X262, bpoiß), ,861 (274 spots), ,767 (249 .spots), 739 (238.spots), 647(201 spotsV and 605,. betides ; many others, of three figures. Collins, completely made three fine, breaks of j505, 414, and 363 respectively. , When .the game .was, .continued on Saturday,the, totals were— P^all, Q327 ; Collins, ,6578. Peall always had the best of the scoring, making as bis chief breaks runs of, 145, %55 (84 spotrt), 77..204 (63.,.5p0t»)^840 (235 spotß)', 349' (96 spots), ami 647 (201 spots) ; while Collins, who showed in-better 'fornHhaii in^any previous .sfaue, compiled, breaks nf- 45, 64, 54, 64, 58, 412 (135 spot,-), 100, 115 (33. s»«>ti«),.79, 48, and "41. It) tbe end , P,f all won oy4o1 l > points, the final record being— Peall, 12 000 ;. Collins, 7981.