BILLIARDS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 468, 13 July 1899, Page 6

BILLIARDS

THE ROBERTS v. DAWSON MATCH.

Interview With Dawson. From the Birmingham, Daily Argus of April 14 : — Although it is now nearly a fortnight since the great billiard match between John Roberts and Charles Dawson terminated in a victory for the former, the relative merits of these great exponents of the game are still actively discussed. An Argus representative took the opportunity yesterday evening of calling upon Charles Dawson, at the Collonade Hotel, where the Huddersfield cueist is staying during his match with Fred Bateman. “ I don’t know that I

have anything more to say on the subject,” said Mr Dawson. “ You are not looking at all well even now, Mr Dawson,” remarked the reporter, “butl suppose you are better than when you played Roberts ? ” “ Oh, much better, but still not as well as I should like to be. Roberts was playing nobody. I had been suffering from quinsy and influenza and all manner of complaints. I have really not recovered from my visit to Australia and Colombo during the summer. I have not got acclimatised, and the cold weather has nipped me like an hot-house plant. Under the circumstances, you can understand that I am not at all satisfied with the result, and I shall certainly challenge Roberts again next year. An awful lot of nonsense has appeared in the newspapers on the match. Roberts is not the player he was, although the public and the Press may say he is. From the rot which has been written I have come to the conclusion that the writers could never have seen the game.” Then you think that Roberts is an over-rated man ?” “I most certainly do. But the infatuation of the public is such that I believe if I had won they would have said he was not trying, and if he had won by only a hundred or so, it would have been said that he could have won by more, and was only playing fora “gate.” They don’t seem to realise that it is possible for other men to improve in their play.” “You did very well during the first week’s play,” said the Argus man. “ Yes. Roberts was in a strange house, and that makes a lot of difference. Had he had anybody to play against him he was a beaten man. He was scratching about al! over the table; following up the balls with his cue and twisting his body about whenever he made a stroke. As a matter of fact, he was playing with no confidence, and was not certain that he was going to get any stroke.” “ What do you think was the cause of this ?” ; “ He had not played me for two years, , you know, and the game I played upset Him. He has been playing the ‘ waiting’ game for so long that he did not understand my style of play. I was playing to win, and if there was nothing on, I either put him down and left a double baulk, or else played for safety.” “I suppose Roberts played no waiting game with you?” “ Not he. He was playing for £20,000, and he played his very best.” “You think you made a great mistake in going to the Egyptian I ’ all ?” “ Yes, but we should have had no match at all if I had not agreed to play there.” I consulted my backers, and they thought that if I did not play him it would look as if I was afraid. So I agreed to play there.” “ Roberts had his full share of luck?” asked the Argus man. “You are quite right,” came the answer; “if I had had the luck he had I should have won. I should say he made, at least 2,000 off flukes.” “ I suppose you will challenge him again next season ?” “ Yes, for I am certain I can beat him.” “ Do you think he will accept your challenge?” “He might, but I fancy he won’t play anyone else level. I gave him the greatest shaking up he has ever had in his life, and although I did not beat him, I have shown the public that he cannot give such ridiculously long starts. I have brought him down to 2,000.” “ Do

you think he can give Diggle 5,500 in 18,000 up?” “No, of course not. I would sooner play Roberts than Diggle. Look at the two matches Roberts and Diggle have played this season. It was a funny thing that Diggle, with 5,500 start, smashed Roberts in London, and then with the same start Roberts won. I always play to win, and I refuse to play the ‘ waiting game.’ ” “ Why do they consent to play with Roberts ? ” “Because they get a pound or so more when they play with him, but all the same, they are doing their reputation no good. They ought to try and pull Robert’s reputation down, and instead they are simply building it up.” “ What do you think, of Bateman’s play, Mr Dawson?” “He is a greatly improved player. He is what I should term an in-and-out player. He gets home very fine ‘ masse’ strokes. I am giving him a big start, but shall just about win.