BILLIARDS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1060, 5 July 1917, Page 11

BILLIARDS.

AN ENJOYABLE DISPLAY. A very enjoyable display of billiards was given in the Grand Billiards Parlour, Do minion Buildings, last evening, by George Gray, the famous young Australian player. Gray's remarkable ability in scoring losing baza ids off the red ball, and making fourfigure breaks by this means, has led many billiards enthusiasts to look upon him as simply a wizard on the red ball. But in late years he has developed his skill in other departments of the game to a cons'derable extent, and so he now plays highclass billiards nil round. In his display last evening Gray seldom made use of losing hazards off the red, even when there were easy openings lor them. Instead, he often selected shots much more difficult, in order to give the spectators, of whom, there was a large crowd, better entertainment. The result was decidedly pleasing. Although (hay had arrived from the south only a few hours before, and the table was of a make new to him, he played very attractive billiards all round the table, his top-of-the-table play, especially his close cannons and masse shots, being particularly well executed. Gray's opponent in an exhibition match of 60(1 up was Second-Lieutenant H. Shanks, a well-known amateur, who received 25(1. Shanks, however, played much below his usual form, and, although he made some very good shots at times, he did not get going properly. The amateur's best breaks were 40 and 30, both made chiefly oil' the red ball, the white having been pocketed. He also made a couple of runs of 22 each. Gray ran out to "game" when Shanks had added just 226 points to his handicap. Gray's highest breaks were two of 105 each, top-of-the-tablc play contributing largely to each. He also made breaks of 58, :i7, 85 unfinished, 33, .'ll, and several smaller ones. Gray's positional play was very nice. A snooker match, in which Shanks received 21 points, found the Australian below his usual form in this particular game. Gray caught the amateur at 36, but Shanks, who had steadied down by this time, went ahead again, aided by forfeits from Gray, and when the last three balls were left on Ihe I: Me Gray needed a "snooker" and both balls to win. However, the professional got this cleverly, and then potted the balls, winning at 82 to 7(i. The entertainment was concluded by an exhibition of trick shots, in which Gray did remarkable things with the balls. Some of bis tricks were quite new.

This evening Gray will give another exhibition in the Grand Billiards Parlour. At billiards he will concede a substantial start to G. Newbury, a well-known amateur and at snooker he will play P. Munn.