BILLIARDS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 10 November 1910, Page 12

BILLIARDS.

TATTERSALL’S CLUB TOURNAMENT. THE HANDICAPS. Much interest is being manifested in the billiard tournament amongst the members of Tattersall’s Club, which is to commence next week. A new standard match table has been installed by Alcock and Co., and all arrangements are well in hand to commence operations. Each game will be of 250 points. The handicaps (Mr. Hackett reserving the right to re-handicap any player after the first round) are as follows: —C. Ryan owes 175, F. Farrell owes 155, Mita Karaka owes 145, E. T. Morrison owes 115, G. Cooke owes 130, A. Champion owes 115, B. Raynes owes 100, N. Cohen owes 95, D. Twohill and E. Cox owe 90, E. W. Warren owes 85, G. Mudford owes 70, R. Noto owes 55, G. O’Dowd owes 50, W. Miller and C. Hodder owe 45, A. Donald owes 40, P. Greenwood, W. Davies, C. Elley, T. Drummond, . Jackson, and F. Lambken owe 3D, T. H. Bush, W. Sandish, and W. Grey owe 25, G. Abbott owes 10, W. Robson owes 5. S. Lees and W. H. Burton scratch, H. G. Lysnar, E. P. Rae, and H. Kneebone receive 5, J. Blakie, R. Masters, F. Williams, H. Hayr, F. L. Armitage, J. Lecky, and P. Morrison receive 10, H. Jones and R. Wilde receive 15, J. Surtees and P. Levy receive 20, G. Wilkinson, J. Molloy, and J. Smith receive 25, F. Leslie receives 30, P. Chadwick receives 35, Ike Hardley and A. Johnstone receive 45, P. Thompson and P. Davidson receive 55, P. A. Quinn receives 60, A. Wylie and A. Craig receive 85, A. Phillips receive 90, T. G. Taylor receives 100, C. Taylor and R. Porter receive 110, W. Foss receives 115, E. Emanuel and W. Morton receive 120.

Inman (the ex-Australian) and Reece have challenged H. W. Stevenson for the billiard championship. George Gray, the Australian, has not entered.

P aying Nelson, Gray made breaks of 431, 693, and 231 (unfinished). The scores are: —Nelson, 3856; Gray, 4502.

George Gray’s challenge to the world for a level match of 18,000 up for £5OO aside has brought an acceptance. from Stevenson to play the Australian under championship rules for the amount stated, but it is unlikely that a match will take place just yet. Although the cable does not state that Gray stipulated Crystalate balls, it is most likely that he did so, for the reason that he has had no experience with ivory—the material with which the championship games have so far been played. Should Stevenson, however, w’aive the point, and consent to the composition, a most interesting game should result. Stevenson is such a resourceful cueist that he might outgeneral the boy by seeking safety when there was nothing sure in sight, and so blocking opportunities of getting position on the red ball. Another trouble is the matter of the make of the table — just as we recently experienced between Lindrum and Weiss fori the Australian Championship. The pros, down under are tied to table-makers —Stevenson and Inman to Burroughes and Watts and Thurston and Co., while Gray has an agreement for six months with Riley of Accrington. With table and ball consideration as the lion in the path,-- there appears little prospect of the two coming together this season. In the meantime a splendid line to the Australian’s

chance against big game is the coming match with E. Diggle, a player little inferior to either of the great guns mentioned. 'lf the boy gefts away with the Manchester player he will have the English public with him to a man.

Geo. Gray beat Nelson, the Yorkshire professional, by 32 98 points in their match of 8000 up, Nelson receiving 3000 start.

Opera House is putting on a specially tempting bill-of-fare for the benefit of holiday audiences. Nat Clifford is one of the “Stars,” and the Co-, taking it all round, is a very strong one. . . . The Picture Theatres

are all announcing special bills. . . . . The repertoire of the Moving Theatre Co. (already referred to ), is a really good one. The opening performances will be “The Fatal Wedding,” to be followed by “Robbery Under Arms,” with the “Sticking Up” of the coach, and the adventures of “Starlight,” all as realistically produced as possible. The season commences to-morrow (Saturday). . .

. . The Nellie Stewart season ends on November 12, and on November 23, Allan Hamiton’s Co. opens at the Royal. Late in December the MacMahon Co. puts in a season at the same house, and Juiius Knight will probably supply our Boxing Night show at the ditto, ditto.