H. W. STEVENSON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 879, 10 January 1907, Page 11

H. W. STEVENSON.

Lovers of billiards will be glad to know that Stevenson has definitely decided to shortly visit New Zealand, where he will give a series of exhibitions, Mr W. Lyons, the well-known cueist, having received a letter from him to that effect. We have had champions here before, but it is safe to say that none have had the style of Stevenson. For a stylish player he is one indeed whose performance is a treat to watch. This is partly due to the express speed at which he piles up the points. Add to this a perfect pose when at the table, an elegant handling of the cue, and the making of the most difficult strokes without a moment’s hesitation on “sighting,” and it is not difficult to understand Stevenson’s drawing power with the public. Stevenson has some fine breaks to his credit, having made runs of over 500 on no less than thirty-two occasions, since the present Billiard Association rules came into force in 1898. Perhaps the most brilliant of the whole series was in a match against Dawson on February, 1905. In this game he strung together 802, 509, 571, and 592 (unfinished). In a match against Diggte for the championship, Stevenson put together a beautiful break of 648, and he had a run of ten more than that in a game with Williams last year. Indeed, in the latter game, Stevenson’s performance was simply phenomenal, as in three consecutive visits to the table he made 548, 169, and 658, or the huge total of 1375 in three cues.

Stevenson will leave Liverpool on March 8, and will be in Canada until March 29, New Zealand in May, Australia during June, July, August, Japan about October, following on to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Penang, Singapore, Ranjoon, etc., in November, and then home to England via India. While in Auckland Stevenson will play probably three matches, which will be arranged for him by Mr Lyons. These will probably be two at the big clubs and one public exhibition. Nothing definite has, however, been arranged so far.

Stevenson gave Harverson 2000 in 9000 and a beating by 197 points. On the final afternoon the winner supplemented a break of 408 with 253 off a double baulk.

Dawson tried to give Reece 2000 in 9000 under the Rimington-Wilson rules, and failed by 688.

In the course of the game in the Burroughes and Watt’s tournament between Diggle and Inman, under RimingtonWilson rules, Diggle caused amusement after a careless shot by giving a safety miss with the other balls in play. As he humorous’y explained subsequently, “I said to myself if I give a miss Inman will have to go out for the shot,” instead of which they were spotted, and Inman was given an easy opening. During the match Inman suffered so much from indisposition that the authorities awarded Diggle the game.

In the match of 8000 up between Harverson and Lovejoy ,the former conceding 2000, for a sjde, the back man on the evening of November 28 made his record break of 450. Harverson accomplished quite the finest performance of his

career. At the end of the afternoon’s play he was engaged with an unfinished break of 25, and on restarting was in such grand form that he added 425 more to it before coming to grief. Thus the full compilation amounted to 450, and is the highest that Harverson has ever made on a standard table, his previous best having been 401, made against Mitchell in Sheffield last season.