SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2334, 30 July 1924, Page 3

SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE WAIPUKURAU COMPETITION Good progress is being made in the tournament at Mr Tremaine’s room for the championship of Waipukurau. On Monday night two gamies were played, Mr Francis v. Mr P. Kemp and ■Mr D. Soppct v. Mr H. Dunn, the first, named player winning in each instance. 'Hie game between Francis and Kemp was hard fought from start to finish, Kemp led at the end ef the first game by twelve—the score board reading, Kemp 47, Francis 35, but by steady play Francis quickly wiped off his arrears and whan all the reds were potted led by Qnc —67 t 066. In a dingdong finish it was black to win. Kemp holed the black and so started the third tnd final game with a lead of four. At this stage Francis played exceptionally good snooker and with only 3 reds potted again assumed the lead being 97 to Kemp 84. Kemp however stuck hard to his opponent and with all the reds gone was only 4 behind. With only (4 balls to pot the score was 11U ail. At thij« stage Francis put up a very aw. ward snooker but Kemp by an excellently judged cushion shot hit the brown but was unlucky in leaving it up far his opponent to pot which he' followed by potting the blue thus leaving Kemp requiring both balls to win. He unluckily went in off the pink, whieh Franeis then potted and secured the game. »' The game between Soppct and Dunn was considerably more one-sided, but Dunn played a plucy game 'and stuck well to his more experienced opponent and ;rt the end otf the first game was only 18 behind. In the second game Soppct increased his lead to '4l— the scores reading 99 to 58. ' Soppct play, ed magnificent, snooker ip the last •gaiui’ v making goo-d breaks, including one of 33 and ran out an easy winner. Th® 10s prize offered each week for the largest break at snooker was won Lost wsk by M.r A. Loader, who compiled an execgtionally good break of 34. Last night rM P. Bridgeman played MrC. Reckin, the former started will and obtained a small lead in the early stages but Reckin came with a rush at the finish and ended the game with a lead of 18. The scores reading Reekin 56, Bridgeman 38. Bridgeman again started well in the second game and at his second visit to the table made a useful .13 which he followed with seven and took the lead at 58 to 57. Playing confidently from this stage Bridgemaa gradually increased his lead until they came to the colours, when Reekin potted yellow green and brown and made the score 88 all. At the fin wk Reckin needed the black te tie out Bridgeman potted it and finished the game with i? lead of 14 —'Bridgeman M)7i Reckin 93. In the third/ game Bridgeman bad increased his lead to 25 by the time he came to the colours. When the yellow and green were potted Reckin requir. pd every ball to tic and with a. supreme and superbly played effort ho secured the four balls in one break, the game ending amidst intense cxcitment in a tic of 143 all. A deciding game had therefore to be played to settle who should go into the next round. A tough struggle ensued and either player was in a position to wiq right up to the last two balls when Reekin unluckily missed the pink and thus required a (snooker to win but he was again unfortunate as at his next -visit to the table he accidentally poted the pink leaving Bridgeman the winner by ■ a small margin-.