ME. EDWARD PERKINS AND COOK, THE ENGLISH CHAMPION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 931, 22 October 1879, Page 2

ME. EDWARD PERKINS AND COOK, THE ENGLISH CHAMPION.

At the Masonic Hall v Sydney, on October 7th, William Cook played a billiard match against Mr. Edward Perkins, the popular host of the Occidental Hotel, Auckland, a player of intercolonial celebrity, to whom he gave 600 points m a game of 1,000 up. The champion was not equal to his reputation m the first part of the game. All the fine parts of his execution were good as far as general play was concerned, but with regard to the critical strokes and strengths, the tone was inferior to his previous exhibitions. The necret, we believe, was that for some inscrutable reason he was unable to obtain the cue he ordinarily used, and he had to play with one unsuited to his Btyle. Mr. Perkins had all the best of the final half of the game, and made the principal breaks. Before Cook had reached 100, Perkins, was 707, with breaks of 22, 15, 10, and 11. Some improvement was now noticeable m the champion's execution ;he made runs of 31, 37, 24, and 57. Perkins, however, had, m the meantime, also been doing business ; he earned 37, and with minor breaks brought up his total to 821, while Cook stood at 200. Neither made fast progress until Cook put togethea a 30, and followed it with others of 40, 18, 32, 89 (6 spots) arid 29. The breaks of Perkins, were at this stage unimportant. Cook had so far gained on him that when he had reached 501 Perkins was 883. Cook now began to play better, as if he became accustomed to his strange cue. He started . after the interval with a break down of 60, and Perkius having scored runs of 13 and 17, the champion drew down some enthusiastic applause m an excellent allround breaks of 84. Then he soon followed with one of 82 (13 spots). Perkins, however, had been getting along with small runs, so that when Cook had reached his seventh century Perkins' total was 959. Cook made a few more meritorious breaks of 56, 24, 13, and 23, before Perkins put together the score necessary for game. <- The victory was to the amateur, with 156 points to spare. It was a heavy handicap, but not excessive, having m view the ability Cook ordinarily displays, and would not have been too much had he started as well as he finished. In conclusion they played three games of pyramids, Cook conceding Perkins two balls. First game, Cook 1, 1, 4, 1, 1. In the Becond Cook opened with a smash, and left a ; good opening for his competitor, who scored 1 and 5, winning the game to Cook's 1 and 3. In the third bout Cook scored game with a break of 9. He won two games of the •three.— « Herald," Bth.