BILLIARDS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 412, 16 June 1898, Page 12

BILLIARDS

TATTEE SALL’S TOURNAMENT.

The committee of Tattersall’s are to be congratulated upon the success of their well-directed efforts to maintain the popularity of the club. The club now possesses very comfortable quarters, and z not the least attractive portion of their premises is the billiard-room, which is very nicely furnished. hhe club is foriunaie in possessing a courteous and attentive caretaker in Mr Woodly, who is entrusted with the management .of the important details in connection with the annual billiard tournament, which was commenced on Monday night.last. The tournament comes on at a very opportune time, as matters in the sporting world are dull-just now, and the keen interest of members is evinced by the large attendance and the close attention observed in the play. The first draw resulted in Messrs E. Davis, owes 50, and J. Armitage, receives 160, meeting, and a really excellent game was witnessed, the scoring being very even all through. Eventually Davis won by the narrow margin of 9 points in lhr 18mm. The winner showed very even form right through, not making any large breaks (the biggest, was 22), but playing very consistently, and, in the early part of the game, luckily. The loser showed fair form, but his play was cramped during the major part of the game. He, however, had all the worst of the luck. The next heat was played on Tuesday, when there was a large and appreciative attendance. The players were J. Cook, owes 210, and J. Davidson, receives 100. The straightforward, matter-of-fact bookie had a big advantage in having to score only 150 while his opponent required to make 460. Mr Cook, however, is one of our very best players, and notwithstanding the long handicap he was required to concede, a close finish was anticipated. This was evidenced by the fact that offers to take 6 to 4 and give choice failed to meet with any response, thus showing that members regarded the handicap as a good one. The play at first was all in favor of Davidson, but Cook had cruel luck. After the score was called Cook 18, Davidson 75, Cook got the balls together and rapidly put together breaks of 14, 45, 21, 14, 20, 15, 14, 41, and others of lesser number. The game, therefore, became more interesting, but the steady going and hard-headed bookie was not to be denied, and he won by 53 points in lhr 20min. There can be no doubt about it that if in the early poition of the game Cook had met with ordinary luck he would have

won. However, we must not detract from the winner's game, because he played characteristically as “ solid as a rock,” and rarely missed an if one was afforded. The next game resulted in a boil over. R. Lusk, receiving 35, met C. Philpot, receiving 100. Lusk had been mentioned for sbme days as a likely winner, but “ Philly” won somewhat easily by 75, cutting out the journey in the excellent time of 57min. He played very well, but he is too conscientious to deny the soft impeachment that it was his night out and that he fluked a bit. The loser, on the other hand, seemed out of form Perhaps if he had had the advantage of a week or two’s practice be would, have borne out all the good things that were said of him. At the time of writing the following are the games that remain to be played in the first round :—

Wednesday (June 15) —Lovelock (owes 175) v. G. Rhodes (receives 90), R. Blaikie (receives 80) v. F. Macmanemin (owes 30). Thursday—W. Davis (owes 100) v. R. Duder (receives 100), G. McKinney (receives 125) v. T. Neill (receives 15).

Friday—F. McHattie (owes 155) v. H. Hayr (receives 50), G. Brimblecombe a bye. “ Ponem ” and “ The Pastor” are the ruling favorites for the tournament.

F. Weiss, the Australian billiard champion, made his first appearance in Australia since his return from England at the Hotel Victoria, George Street, Sydney, on June 7. Owing to illhealth and the difficulty he experienced in arranging matches with the leading professionals, Weiss’s English trip was not a great success. He played a drawn game with Roberts, who was conceding the Australian 6500 in a match of 21,000, and was afterwards defeated by Dawson, who allowed him 3000 start in a game of 18,000. On June 7 Weiss played two exhibition games against E. James, the Sydney cueist. In the first 500 up the champion conceded 150 points, push and spot barred. Though Weiss drew level with James at 479, the Sydney man drew away and won by 15 points. Weiss was playing far below his form, and failed in some very simple shots. His best breaks were 96, 96, and 40; and James’ best were 74 and 70. In the second, an all-in game, James had a start of 100 in 500 up. Weiss quite failed to do himself justice, and James ran out when his opponent’s points were 291. James once got on the spot and made a fine break of 147, his next best efforts being 76 and 69. The champion’s best break was 102. Several fancy shots by Weiss were loudly applauded. On April 15 J. Roberts, the champion, who was playing- a match of 21,000 up against E. Diggle, the latter receiving 6,500 points start, made a break of 679, which beats the previous push-barred record made by himself a fortnight earlier by 70 points. Says a London paper of April 23 : —About the month of May, C. Dawson and J P. Mannock will leave England on an extended tour. They have made arrangements to visit Australia, New Zealand, and Indsa, and will play exhibition games in the principal cities. As Dawson has never been abroad, and is an aspirant for championship honors, there is every reason why the tour should prove a great financial success, and, in any case, it is bound to be a pleasant holiday. They expect to be absent from this country for about six months.