BILLIARDS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 515, 1 November 1900, Page 7

BILLIARDS

ROBERTS V- WEISS

The great match is n >w in its closing stages, and the result is still in doubt, for although our representative is a gre t number of points to the good, his opponent is such a wonderful player that he may coine with one of his matchless rushes at any moment. Certainly, be has not been at his top so far in Melbourne, and may not get going properly ; but the same thing applies to Weiss, for, with the exception of Monday night’s 250, he has not put in a decent run since the match was transferred to t.be smellful city, whilst the averages of both players have fallen very considerably. Most likely it is the increased mental and physical strain of the long game that is interfering with their play; but the visitor is such an experienced and hardened match-player that he should be the least affected in that respect. Anyhow, whoever wins, the finish will most likely be an exceedingly exciting one (says “ Snooker ” in the Sydney Referee). The Melbourne papers have been eulogising some of * Weiss’ shots. One in particular on Saturday night, of which I have a diagram and will publish next issue was a beauty. Weiss was in hand, with the red hard up against the top cushion, near the billiard spot, whilst Roberts’ ball was over the No. 2 middle pocket, against the baulkend jaw. Weiss could not play directly at it without holeing it, so he went for a losing hazard off the No. 5 and No 4 cushions, and made the shot*, just flicking the ball and dropping in. It was a superb stroke, which brought down the house. Fred Weiss put up an Australian record with 240 off the red ball on Monday afternoon. He had started out well in the opening session with 150, leaving a double baulk. Roberts gave a miss and Fred got to work again. When he had made four he lost the.white, and going on ran up 246, all off the red. In the first game with Roberts in Sydney he made up 117 in the same way, and against Frank Smith, in Melbourne last June, he ran up 127. whilst he also put in 168 at the Glebe against Mr E. J. Boyle; but Monday’s effort was far and away his best. Roberts is also very partial to this particular phase of the game,-and he has put in some great perfermances. His finest run was 351, made in December last at the Egyptian Hall. He then lost the white when but 7 on, and made 118 losers and 1 winner off the red, and never brought ; the red into baulk daring the long run. Weiss is doing something great in almost every match, and I would not be surprised if he broke even' this flne record of John’s in the near future, for he is particularly strong at the hazard game. The match is causing a gieat amount of interest right through the continent —even the far-off Thursday Island is interested. I had a “ reply paid ” wire from that sink of iniquity yesterday, asking for the scores to be transmitted. The averages of both Weiss and Roberts fell off considerably during the first three days in Mel-

bourne. Whether it was the climate,- the different conditions, or the change from a Heiron and Smith to an Alcock table, I can’t say. but their averages dropped from 37.25 to 32.70 Roberts, and from 29 56 to 23.23 for Weiss The best break up to Monday was 250 by Weiss, as against'3o6 and 308 in Sydney. They also had each 32 cues in the opening session in Melbourne, as against eleven here on one occasion. According to the cable the match came to a conclusion on Friday. On Thursday night wh*n play closed the scores were—Weiss 20,131, Roberts 19420, and Roberts was within 276 of his points. On the co eluding day the Australian played very well indeed, while Roberts did not show to particular advantage. When the leader reached 20,984 he made an unfinished break of 16, and ran out a winner by BPO points The final scores were —Weiss 21,000, Roberts 20,110.