BILLIARDS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 979, 10 December 1908, Page 12

BILLIARDS

Just prior to the mail leaving, John Roberts attempted to give C. Harvisson 4000 start in 18000 but failed by 431. V C The Scottish champion T. Aitken has been in great form recently. His latest victories include two easy wins over Bedford (rec. 250 in 1000) Aitken making a break of 461. :r ❖ * In the match against Dawson, Inman, who received 2000 start, was making no race of it when the mail left. Dawson was 13 44 behind his proper points. ¥ * ¥ When the mail left Sydney young Fred Lindrum was attempting to concede F. Smith 2000 up in a game of 16,000. The scores were then Smith 3 618. Lindrum 2672, so that the latter had all the better of the easy exchanges. * * * * There is much speculation as to what start Fred. Lindrum could successfully concede Geo. Gray in 10,000. (says the “Referee”). The

Queensland boy will be in Sydney in the course of a few weeks, and it is probable that those inter-State and country visitors who will be visiting Sydney for Christmas and to view the Bur ns-Johnston contest, may see this gifted pair of young Australians at work. As Gray mainly depends on his hazards —position which Lindrum might block —and is a trifle weak on all-round billiards, a third of the game at least should be conceded.

A GREAT GAME.

Great interest was taken in the meeting of H. W. Stevenson and E. Diggle in the. heat of Messrs Burroughes and Watts’ annual tournament in London. Stevenson was set to give the famous Mancunian a 1000 start, and, with first one and then the other having the advantage, the result was just as open as before the first day’s play was commenced when the last session was entered upon. More remarkable still, the big breaks did not put in an appearance till the final day, when higgle had the honour of making the highest break of the match, this being a magnificent top-of-the-table compilation of 453. Stevenson, on the other hand, topped

the triple century mark on no less than three occasions, with 349, 323, and 30 6. Diggle, however, was not passed until the scores stood at 8169, and he caused the scores to be called later 8283 all. Stevenson, not giving any chances away, soon settled the question with efforts of 328, 148, and 119 (unfinished), saw one of the most remarkable games witnessed for a long time end in favour of the scratch man by 584 points.

JOHN ROBERTS.

It would be ungenerous to expect John Roberts to billiards as years ago, but his form against Williams and Harverson has demonstrated to a nicety that the “ wizard ” is anything but a back number. He failed to concede Williams 4500 in 18,000 up by only 123 points, and no doubt will make his present opponent travel. Roberts is 61 years old; but is still a wonderfully attractive player and fast scorer. He looks and acts the master when shaping his shot, whilst his remarkable personality, dwarfs everybody and everything in the room. Here is another saying of Billy Mitchell concerning John Roberts, who has no greater admirer: —• “The ‘big ’un ’ plays as if he owned the table. We look as if we had hired it for the nigtht.”

HINTS FOR BILLIARD PLAYERS.

1. Gentlemen are requested not to strike the marker with their cues. Use the rest. 2. Please endeavour to keep the

balls on the table. This is a billiard room, not a golf course. 3. Gentlemen are earnestly requested not to use the billiard table as an ash-tray. It is just as easy to drop the ash of your cigar or cigarette down your opponent’s neck. 4. Do not walk out' without paying for the game—Run. 5. Any gentleman wishing to play a game whilst in a state of intoxication, must deposit the sum of twenty pounds with the management—in case of accidents. 7. Please do not expectorate in the pockets. The ceiling is provided for this purpose. 8. The management will pay a good price for chalk. It will, therefore, be to your advantage to save all the pieces of chalk you take home with you.

OHAMPIONS GALORE.

This is the age of billiard champions (says the “New World of Billiards”). We have the champion, the Billiard Association champion, the ex-champion, the nursery-cannon champion, the cradle-cannon champion, the losing-hazard champion, the rocking-cannon champion, the top-of-the-table champion champions past and present of every conceivable kind, both old and young. There is, indeed, a plethora of champions. All this bespeaks the popularity of the game. There must be leaders in every class of billiards, as in all grades of society. It is a natura 1 out-

come. We all really want' to know who is the Simon Pure —the real master of the art. Of course, we have a shrewd suspicion that this honour belongs to H. W. Stevenson. But, like other people, we desire to see him gain the title and hold it by right of conquest. One of the chief aims of the Billiard Control Club, so I am informed, is the revival of the professional championship; and it will justify its entrance into the game by carrying it info effect.