BILLIARDS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 341, 4 February 1897, Page 8

B ILLIARDS

The lovers of the best and most scientific of all in-door games have had the opportunity of enjoying a treat in watching the splendid exhibition of billiards afforded by Messrs Memmott and Weiss since their arrival in Auckland. The match (350 J up) has been played in a room in Victoria Street, fitted up for the occasion by Messrs Barton and McGill, billiard-table manufacturers, and it may safely be said that not one of those who paid the rather high rate charged for admission were sorry they had done so, as the exhibition from first to last was really first-class, and one the equal of which will not probably be witnessed for years in this part of the world. The pair make a splendid match in the spot-barred game, and the marked difference of their style of play was not the least attractive part of the exhibition. In Weiss the public had the opportunity of seeing a deliberate and calculating player, while in Memmott they saw an exponent of brilliant and lively billiards, not so certain probably as Mr Weiss, but most attractive. The exhibition match was started on Thursday afternoon. In the first portion of the play Memmott took the lead, and at the adjournment the scores were— Memmott, 702; Weiss, 606. In the evening both men were in fine form, and Weiss succeeded in passing his opponent, the scores at the close of the play being —Weiss, 1401 ; Memmott, 1359. The principal breaks during the day were —Memmott, 116,111,171, and 168; Weiss, 104, 107, 111, 126, 99, and 69. On the next evening, Fridav, the match was continued, and at first it looked as if Weiss was going to run away from his opponent, but the latter picked up his form and put in some beautiful breaks, in which the nursery cannons were the feature, so that when play ceased for the night the scores were—Memmott, 2101 ; Weiss, 2098. Some of the breaks recorded in the evening were -Memmott, 77, 97, 105, and 147; Weiss, 97, 101, and 164. On the final afternoon and evening of the match Memmott was in great form, playing with a brilliance that greatly pleased the spectators, and he finally won by 349 points, the scores being : Memmott, 3500; Weiss, 3151. Some of the winner’s strokes were truly marvellous, and he gave an exhibition that greatly pleased everyone. In the first portion of Saturday’s play the balls broke badly for Weiss, and he did not get fairly going until his opponent had obtained a substantial lead and pursuit appeared hopeless, but even then he played well. The best breaks recorded were: Memmott, 56, 67, 93, 100, 115, and 241; Weiss, 51,65,70,100, 105, and 116. On Friday afternoon Weiss and Memmott played a special match of 750 up. It was arranged after the races had been postponed, and the short notice and the fact that rain came down in torrents caused the attendande to be small. The players gave a very fine exhibition, and victory finally rested with Weiss, who won by nearly a hundred. In one break of sixty Weiss holed the white and then went in off the red seventeen consecutive times. Weiss’ best breaks were 51, 66, 67, 72, 81, 88, and 132. Memmott’s best breaks were 71, 80, 90, and 122. On Monday evening a large number of billiard enthusiasts enjoyed two very good games. The first was between Mr Weiss and a well-known Auckland amateur. The amateur received a start of 300 in 500 up. Playing steadily with breaks of 17, 26, 31, etc., the amateur kept a long lead until the game was called 200 —467, when Weiss came with a rush, making breaks of 52 (12 spots), 56 (14 spots), and 51 (8 spots). Meanwhile his opponent raised his score to 489. Weiss then put together a break of 121, but, wanting only 3 to win, broke down at a long jenny, and his opponent ran up the 11 required, his nerve enabling him to make two clever shots when under the whip. Weiss was suffering from the oppressive heat, which made things uncommonly clammy. The second match, under the same conditions, was between Memmott and a popular metallician (W. Lyons). The professional was in his very best form, and with breaks of 101 (28 spots), 134 (38 spots), etc., got within coo-ee of his antagonist, and, still going strongly, ran out with a splendid all-round break, including sequences of nursery cannons of 204, with the balls left, in a position which promised a few more hundreds had they been required. Memmott’s 500 was scored in 35 minutes, while his opponent made 90, the game ending—Memm'fl.t, 500 ; Lyons, 390. Memmott only gave his opponent seven chances to score. The exhibition was a revelation of rapid scoring. A most exciting game was witnessed in Manchester in December between George Heath and Arthur Bostock for £2OO aside. When play finished in the afternoon the scores were, Bostock (in play) 503, Heath 442. When play was resumed in the evening the building was packed to its utmost capacity, and Bostock with a lead of 61 opened out favourite at 7 to 4 on, whilst before striking he bet £35 to £2O on himself. The lead which he had established was soon reduced, and Heath playing in capital form soon placed a gap between them, and this caused the betting to change, as much as 3 to 1 being laid on him. Upon entering the last century Heath was nearly one hundred in front. But a great change came over the play, as Bostock, playing with rare pluck and confidence, pulled the match out of the fire, and won one of the most exciting matches played in Manchester for some time by 8 points, the final scores being: Bostock, 1000; Heath, 992.