BILLIARDS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 925, 28 November 1907, Page 13

BILLIARDS.

,W. Lyons, Auckland’s champion cueist, returned from Australia on Monday with his pockets well-lined with “Apologue money.”

Commenting upon the oval table “A Mathematician” writes to the London “Standatd”: “Having had some mathematical training, I do not understand why there should be more chance play on this shaped table than any other, for the science of the angles of incidence and reflection of both squares and circles has been accurately and fully demonstrated for thousands of years, before billiard tables were thought of ; therefore, there can be no ground for stating that there is any more difficulty about judging the

angles off the cushions of the two circles of which the ‘Arc-Oval’ table is composed than there is in judging the angles of the two squares of the. oblong-shaped table.”

Young Beddoe, \vho defeated Alfred Vockler in Melbourne during Cup week, is sure to make •" his mark in Australian billiards (says “Snooker,” in the'Sydney “Referee”). He has acquired a splendid soft touch, plays the winning hazard excellently, and is amazingly good in angle cannons and losing hazards. After recently studying George Gray, Frank Smith, jun., and this young Victorian, I am in doubt as to which is the better of the trio. Gray is perhaps the most skilful in the finer phases of billiards, such as he masse stroke ; Smith excels in the winning hazard and power of cue ; but Beddoe has a superior all-round knowledge of billiards and a better touch than his rivals. When these lads meet I feel sure the billiard-iloving public wll be delighted with their display.

In the first game between Weiss and Roberts on the oval table—which was won by Weiss —veteran Roberts played brilliantly at times, and was full of all his old-time dash. He made one excellent run of 291, which might have affected a less imperturbable player than Weiss. The reception given to Roberts clearly demonstrated that he is still a warm favourite with the public.