The Billiard Table

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17229, 21 December 1923, Page 3

The Billiard Table

BY

"CUE"

The only game played in tho snooker tournament at Tattersall’s during the past week was a fourth round ono between W. Smith (10 behind) aud J. M’Conachy (40). Smith played well, while his opponent was off his game, being unlucky in mussing nearly everything he went for. The scores were— Smith 128, M’Conachy 91.

Falkincr deieated him recently’ he would have the. worst of matters with either of the cracks at whom the challenge is aimed.

The movement to send Clark M'Conachy Home as the accredited New Zealand representative to take part in the

contest for the world’s billiards championship in London was advanced a further stage recently, says the Dominion,” when news was received that the Auckland Sports Club, which represents the British Billiards Association in New Zealand, had given its official endorsement to the proposal and had voted £25 towards the expenses.

It is understood that IJ. G. Seidoberg, the Otago amateur champion, will make the trip Home next year to contest the world’s amateur championship.

No games were played last week in connection with the Starland salodn snooker tournament at aTttersall’s, are being held up owing to some of the players being out of town.

M’Conachy has a good chance of annexing the world’s title, as on his visit to England last year lie beat Reece three times, and also defeated Inman, Newman, Falkiner, Harversou and all the other lending British players, with the exception of Smith, who refused to give him a matfch. The New Zealander put up a record with ivory halls in England, running up a break of 9-7 in Birmingham, in February, 1922. lie also holds tho record break for India

There is only one more game to be played in the fourth round of the snooker tournament at aTttersall’s, this being between W. Mussou (25) and C. Mahon (50). The game has been delayed on account of Musson’s illness.

The meeting called recently to decide whether to support’ tho sending Homo of Clark M’Conachy to contest the world's championship had nothing to do with the Canterbury Amateur Billiards Association, who, while they would like to see him go, are unable to join the movement, as by so doing they would lose their amateur status.

,870) aud on his return to New Zealand put up the world’s third largest break with bonzoline balls (1183) in Vel-

It would appear that the English billiard authorities are not at all desirous that representatives from the Dominions should compete for the worlds champiorship, as they recently raised the entrance foe from £SO to £2OO. M Con achy had already forwarded his £SO, but tho sudden rise, coming on top of lus travelling expenses, was a big financial hurdle. However, it is hoped to raise the necessary amount, but what is desired is that the leading centres in the Dominion should endorse M’Conachy as the New Zealand representative. Auckland and AVellington have already done this, aud it is hoped that Christchurch and Dunedin will follow suit. The chief difficulty is that there is no official body controlling billiards in the Dominion, which necessitates the sportsmen taking action in each centre. It is hoped that the movement to send a New Zealander Home to compete for the world’s championship will be crowned with success.

A while back it was stated that the word’s lady champion, Miss Ruby Roberts, was about to return to her native land—Australia. Tho visit has been postponed, and she will not now arrive until April or May next. She will be a welcome visitor.

Tn defeating Newman by 615 in the lialf-crown-a-point game, with £SO on tho side, Smith won £126 17s 6d. It was a great game, in which Newman scored a 900 break, and Smith 800 (his record). Despite his heavy cue, I/iman was defeated by Falkincr by 16,000 to 15.658.

As a result of his improvement with the heavy weight cue. Melbourne Inj man has issued a challenge to play anyone a. level 16.100 for anything from j £IOO to £SOO aside. Smith and Newman are the players ho is after; but as

had been supplied with electric light before our home was built. The ceilings are made of fibro-cement. aud Dad warned uncle oi this; but he must have forgotten, for while hammering something bo slipped, and Mum, down below, was startled by an awful crash, and on looking in beheld uncle’s legs and part of his body hanging through a gap in the ceiling! And pieces of the wreckage were lying everywhere ! Luckily, uncle was unhurt, except for • a bruised shoulder- but there is still that awful hole in the ceiling, aud I'm afraid if will stay there until the light is installed, for, as Dad says. “ What’s the m-c of repairing it when we never know who else- may come

through next ? _ Editor: “ That poem of yours does not show any imagination Poet: “ More imagination than you think.” “ How’s that?” “ I imagined that I