BILLIARDS

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 19 (Supplement)

BILLIARDS

MeCONACHY'S GREAT WIN A SENSATIONAL FINISH. That Clark McConachy, New Zealand billiards champion, has improved greatly during the last twelve months is obvious from his recent striking success against Walter Lindrum, the Australian crack. The Sydney Sun bestows high praise on the visitor in its issues dealing with the big match. Writing of McCbnachy’s play on the afternoon when he caught up with the famous Australian the Sun’s sporting critic said:— “I feel like playing billiards to-day,” the New Zealand champion, Clark McConachy, said to a friend just before he started the afternoon session against Walter Lindrum. He soon got to the table —and made 11. Then Lindrum scored two. McConachy soon afterwards compiled 168 with perfect billiards, and Lindrum replied with 78, but the balls were not running to his fancy. Then McConachy got in, anti with all manner of shots did not cease until he hud made a 478 break, compiled in 24 minutes. At times he was in most difficult positions, and had to bring all his prowess into action, but he never erred, and was loudly applauded when he brought off several fine masse shots and a long screw-back, which left him in perfect position. What was Lindrum doing all this time? Well, he was experiencing exasperating positions. He had scored 100 in three minutes when the balls broke safely, and shortly afterwards he was given three double baulks. McCONACHY SHOOTS AHEAD. McConachy in the meanwhile was piling up points. Intermediate breaks of 81, 118, and 58 preceded the commencement of his huge 600 break. He commenced this soon after Lindrum had failed at a double-baulk, and let in McConachy, who played magnificent billiards in a fearless know-I-Will-get-it fashion. Long losers, long winners, halfrun throughs, and at times nurseries, were all executed in faultless style. At 212 the balls were in dead line, and McConachy executed a most difficult shot into a very narrow middle pocket. This left him with a good position, and with great alacrity he reached the end of the table position and went on until he was within 100 of Lindrum’s t0ta1—13,487. With the spectators excited McConachy was playing quite confidently, and never took his eyes off the table. At last “600” was called, and McConachy had passed his opponent by 127 points. That finished the afternoon session. The house gave vent to its excitement, and cheer after cheer was given for the New Zealand champion. He had made 1574 in two hours and a quarter to Lindrum’s 305. LINDRUM’S FINE TRIBUTE. Immediately McConachy hud finished Lindrum congratulated him. ‘lt is the best exhibition of billiards I have ever seen,” he said. “I don’t care if Willie Smith, W. Davis, or any other world’s champion was playing, they could not have surpassed McConachy's play. No human hand could do better.” In the night session McConachy visited the table to continue his 600 break. He had made 17 more when he broke down at a comparatively easy cannon. Then the champion was left with the balls in such a position that it looked as if a safe miss was all he could do. But he thought out the problem. The red was safe at the top of the table and the white near the lefthand corner pocket, while Lindrum’s ball w’as almost touching it. He fired on to the bottom cushion and came down with exactitude which gave him a losing hazard off •the white. The shot broiught down the house, but Lindrum made only nine before he failed. McConachy adder! 141. Lindrum responded with 209, including some of the most delicate cannons one could possibly see. The scores were called at 13,780 all. Then came a fine break of 586 by Lindrum in 31J minutes. But McConachy was not to be denied, and, helped by 201 and 181, the game was 14,333 all. McConachy then went to the front, and at the close of the session the scores stood:—Lindrum 14,352 (in hand, 19 unfinished), McConachy 14,379. THE FINISH. The finish was described as follows:—One of the finest billiard matches ever staged In Sydney ended when Clark Mc€onachy, the New Zealand champion, defeated the Australian champion, Walter Lindrum, in their game of 18,000 up, by 379.

McConachy started the afternoon session yesterday with 448 advantage, and increased it to nearly 1000; but at the end of this session Lindrum was only 30 behind. At the night session, the rooms at Home Recreations, Ltd., were crowded. McConachy was in hand with 17 unfinished, and his first contribution was only 16 more. Lindrum responder! with 43, missing at his next visit, while McConachy’s second stick yielded a magnificent 203 break. A little later Lindrum compiled 179 in quick succession, and another interesting stage of the game was when the scores stood at 17,266 all. Lindrum missed at this stage by a fraction, and McConachy quickly got into his stride, and compiled a beautiful 193.