NOTES ON INTERNATIONAL MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 68

NOTES ON INTERNATIONAL MATCH.

Writing in the Glasgow H-erald, Mr A. Roberts, Leeds, the -courteous president of the English Draughts Association, says: — Not a note of discord marred the match from beginning to end, and it was pleasant to find due acknowledgment made both by the English and Scottish players to the victories obtained by their opponents.

The captain of the Scottish combination (Robert Stewart, of Kelty) -ecamed to have impressed the "TCngKgh players -with, his .fine .style of play and sitting power. Jt was wintered that three of the leading English experts wore anxious to meet the Scottish Achilles, bnt tire three he opposed in the contest could not move him from his adamantine position. It is not often that 3oe great meetings of draughts experts are graced with the prearaice of 'adies, but the opening day at Newcastle waa an exception. A lady of graceful appearance— fair, end over forty— took a, deep interest in the preliminary proceedings, telling » gallant Scotsman that she was an adept at chass, took a deep interest in draughts, and more than once sat out a sitting in -whioh tho Herd Laddie played his masterful games. She -was seated at the table where Stewart and Richmond played their grand game, and watched jt to the close with deep interest. Mrs Lyons, "of Sunderland, a player and ploblemist in her day, also graced the first day* proceedings. Alec Batteraby, who suffered from an acute suppuration, at the International match, has since £>sen very ill, but is now rapidly convalescing. In Alderman "W. H. Newton, J.P., one of Newcastle's prominent public men, wo had a. hunxouiist. In replying to a vote of thanks proposed by Mr HiHhouse, Glasgow, he particularly requested the Scotsmen to look at the cathedral, and told: that when the city was stormed by the Scots, they sent word that unless the then governor surrendered they would blow the lectern to pieces. Tho commander put notable Scotch prisoner* in tbe lectern, and replied, "Blow away; if you do yon -will send your own countrymen to the ■ before their time." The longest game of th« tournament, played between J. Hynd and E. M'Cnfferty, lasted close upon six hours. The Scotsman had a slight advantage, but so -hard did Hynd fight that he forced a <ba.w, without -any palpable error' on M'Cafferty's part. Some hard thing 3 have been said about Mr Jordan's absence-from the Scottish team. An English exchange pute it:— "Mr Jordan is, wa boheve, a doubtful starter for Scotland on account of the restriction. He objects to the 'Feme-Jordan' restriction being adopted m this contest, as he does not wish to be oonipelka to- give any of his ideas away in a purely friendly match." . An Edinburgh correspondent writes: — Ke tbe International match, the idea of only two games during a day's play ie quite ridiculous — the average runs at a fraction oyei two gamea per man in three days, T.-hioh is small. The total number of games is also small compared' wi*h the last meeting- — in fact, there were 71 more games plnyed at Glasgow than in the Newcastle match."— Draughts World.