THE GRAY-LINDRUM COMBINATION,.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1036, 13 January 1910, Page 11

THE GRAY-LINDRUM COMBINATION,.

After a couple of preliminary matches in Auckland, Fred Lindrum, junior and George Gray, (holder of the world’s record break of 836) met on Monday evening at His Majesty’s Billiard. Parlour, Durham Street, to try conclusions once again. This time the match was one of 8,000 up, Gray receiving a start of 500 points. The saloon had undergone numerous alterations and the seating accommodation was comfortable and left nothing to be desired, the spectators, one and all, being able to see every shot in the game. Everybody, who is anybody, in the local billiard world was present on Monday evening, and although the lads were not seen at their best, they nevertheless gave a first-class display and all present (except the players themselves perhaps) should have been highly satisfied with the efforts of both Gray and Lindrum. MONDAY’S SESSION. The game, which was commenced upon a standard table especially erected for the occasion by Messrs. Alcock and Co., manufacturers, was played with crystalate balls. Both lads began, quietly, but. soon Lindrum, with contributions of 44, 42, 62, and 41 reached 200 while Gray had added 79 to his start. The cues were very damp and were not by any means conducive to the best the boys were capable of. Many of those present were waiting: anxiously for Gray to get the red into position, but only once did he look like engaging the table for the night, • and on this occasion he made 84 off the red. On one occasion, Gray went to the table four times in succession without adding to his score, while at

one part of the game, sixteen visits only realised 41 a sure sign that the; balls were running against him. Lind-j rum, on the other hand, was playing! • a pretty game of all round billiards! and gradually gained on his youngefj rival. The last of the session cam® when Lindrum ran to his points wit® an unfinished break of 4 8. The finaE scores were: Gray 1018, Lindruntg 728. From this it will be noticed tha® Lindrum wiped off 201 of the 50® start at the first session. The follovfij ing shows the value of each visit tffi the table an x signifying a visit scoring:—Gray (received 500): x. xS 502, 508, 514, 533, 574 (41 break® 576, 579, 583, 601, 627, x, 693 f (6M break), x, 694, 756 (62 break), 76(fe| 767, x, 803,x,x; 811, x, 818, 821, x, 823, 830, x, x, x, x, 844, x, x, 949 (84 break all off the red#, xO 950, 953, 984, x, 1004, 1013, Lindrum x, x, 1,3, 6, x, 21$ ‘6|a (44 break), 107, (42 break)Ml2ffJ 182 (62 break), 223 (41 break), 22,® 258; 300 (42 break), 308, 342, 34® x, 355, 375, x, x, 386, x, 41 S.wmibMw x, x, 436, x, 440, x, 442, 452, xTTOr

X, x, 504, 511, 517, 589 (72 break), 590, 599, 619, 661, 680, x, 728 (unfinished). THE SECOND SESSION. BOTH LADS PLAYING WELLPlay was resumed on Tuesday afternoon at three o’clock, when there was again a good attendance of interested spectators. Lindrum was the first to commence, and continuing his unfinished break of 45 from the previous evening he made an excellent compilation of 101. Gray’s first cue realised 33. Lindrum opened well, but after a time his pla.y deteriorated, and Gray soon had his original sart again. However, in the last hour Lindrum got to (work in earnest, and treated those present to some pretty billiards, his slow screw shots in particular being appreciated by the audience. Gray, on the other hand, scored rapidly when he had the red over the centre, and from the one ball made breaks of 84, 71, 63 and 48. A first-class exhibition brought to a close, when Lindrum ran to his sessional points with a meritorious unfinished break of 135. The scores at the end of the session read: Lindrum (in play) 1455, Gray 1649. In other words, Lindrum who is conceeding Gray 500 start, is only 194 behind. The following is the score after each cue, an x signify a visit to the table without scoring:—Lindrum: 728, 784 (101 break continued from the previous session), 803, x, 810, x, 834; 844, x, 849, x, 878, 898, x, x, 904, x 912, 915, 943, 948, x, 973, x, 981, x, 998, 1017, 1087 (70 break), 1108, 1189 (81 break), 1201, x, x, 1229, 1276 (47 break), 1306, 1320, 1455 (135 break unfinished). Gray: 1018, 1055 X 1076, 1089, 1090, x, 1094, 1175 (81 break off red), 1179, 1193, x, 1266 (73 break), 1272, 1335 (63 break off red), 1337. 1341, 1400 (59 break), x, 1407, 1477 (60 break), x, 1507, 1509, x, 1511, 1520, 1539, 1545, 1.565, 1573, 1599, x, x. 1605, x, 1637, 1640, 1649. The match will be played in sessions every afternoon and evening this week. Mr. S. Lyons has charge of the scoring board, and his work is all that could be desired.

There was a large attendance at Mac’s Billiard Saloon, Ponsonby, one evening last week when those two young cueists, Gray and Lindrum, played a game of 750 points. Gray’s play was poor, but, on the other hand, Lindrum was in good form and soon ran to game, his average being 29. Gray was only 193 when his opponent ran out. The match was played on an Alcock Standard table.