NEW BILLIARDS RULE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1932, Page 7

NEW BILLIARDS RULE

CROSSING OF BAULK LINE. REDUCTION IN LARGE BREAKS. (New Zealand Herald Correspondent.) London, Sept. 29. Clark McConachy, the New Zealand billiards player, has arrived back in London in perfect health. He spent the

summer in Bournemouth, dividing his time between swimming and billiards practice. At the hotel where he. stayed there was a good table. He had anticipated that there would be. some change in the rules this season, and was under the impression that the new rule would require that the object balls cross the line in a given number of points. He therefore practised with this idea in mind, arid became very proficient at this particular style of play. Two days before he came to London to play Newman, whom he defeated by 16,480 to 15,446, the British Billiards Association advised the professional •players that it was its intention to experiment with a rule which concerned only the cue ball, and not the object balls. “This, of course, upset my plans altogether,” said (McConachy, “but I found that the practice I had had helped m.e greatly to overcome the difficulties experienced in the new cross-line rule.” McConachy explained that there were four ways of crossingthe line and leaving the balls in a position of play. “Being a red ball, a top of the table, a cannon, player, and a fair stroke player,” he said, “I find that I- am not worried by the (new movement, and feel that I shall be able to hold my own during the coming season. If my opening form stands for anything it looks as if . I am going to have a good season.” ..... Most of his matches will be played at Thurston’s up to December. During the latter half .of the season, there is to be a tournament for which the News of the World is to give a gold cup. “I see no reason,” said McConachy, “why all the first-class players should not enter this year for the championship. Last year Lindrum and Newman had an engagement in America at the end of the season and were unable to enter. This year everything seems favourable for a very good season. The new rule will keep players closer together, and there will not be so many large breaks. Even the most practised player is likely to get into troublethrough having to cross the line.”