BILLIARDS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1240, 22 January 1914, Page 33

BILLIARDS

Alec Taylor concluded his Auckland season with entertainments at the Auckland and Hauraki clubs. At the Auckland Club Taylor was opposed by a well-known amateur, who was conceded 350 in 750. Taylor, with best breaks of 116, 114 (108 off the red), 89 and 84, winning by 66 points. In fairness to the amateur, who is a good sport, want of practice prevented him showing his best form, and under the circumstances he put up a good battle. Taylor was specially good in his fancy and trick shot display.

At the Hauraki Club Taylor gave an amateur 350 points in 750 up, and won by 134, with best breaks of 118, 88 and 75. Taylor left for Rotorua on his way to Wellington, and has a number of engagements to fulfil in the Capital City.

The challenge of Reece to play Fred Lindrum 18,000 up level for £250 aside this season in Australia is sure to be accepted. The Australian press give Reece plenty of praise for his challenge, which imposes no conditions that can be taken exception to. Lindrum has already defeated Reece in five out of six contests, aggregating 82,508 points to the 77,003 scored by his opponent. To win five out of six games is a good performance,, even if the difference in the aggregate points (5505) is not very great. Reece was the only high-class player Lindrum defeated on his Engish tour, and one of the games had a somewhat sensational ending, as Landrum ran to game with a break of over 500 unfinished when Reece required less than 300 points for game. This performance somewhat rehabilitated Lindrum’s otherwise shattered reputation in the minds of the English critics. Next to John Roberts, perhaps, Tom Reece is the most attractive cueist that has visited Australia, and as Lindrum invariably gives attractive displays of cuemanship, whether as a red ball or top of table player, patrons of the game in Australia should have a regular billiard feast.

Mr. Fred Alcock is back again in Melbourne after his visit to England, and speaks eloquently of the splendid treatment he received from the sportsmen across the water. W. H. Stevenson defeated Tom Reece in the third heat of the big London tournament. Reece, who had just come off the bonzoline, did not adapt himself so quickly to the ivory as Stevenson, and as the table was very fast there are excuses made for Reece, who was defeated by 1110 points. Neither player did anything great in the way of averages—Steven.son 33.98 to Reece’s 27.09. Best breaks: Stevenson 590, Reece 415 and 367. Breaks over the century: Stevenson 32, Reece 23. The winners in the tournament were Inman (who defeated Aiken), Peall (who beat Inman), Stevensonby his victory over Reece, and Aiken looked certain to beat E. Higgle, the score with .two sessions to go being Aiken 6585,’ Higgle 4231. A London boy amateur, Fraser Farrar, now 19 years of age, challenges any amateur under 21 for the championship of the world’s metropolis. Farrar has made a- break of 104 on a full-size table, which, while a good effort, is nothing out of the way. When A. G. Fay, ex-amateur champion of New South Wales, was only 17 he made better figures, and at present young Hughes, aged 15, and A. Turner, of Manly, have made bigger scores than the Londoner. Amateurs in Australia are going on the right way, and with each succeeding season much improvement is in evidence.

It is stated that young Walter Lindrum will enter the billiard arena this year by challenging some of the lesser lights. E-. J. Campbell, the champion of Victoria, may have first choice, and if Walter gets home in this match games with Frank Smith, sen. and jun„ may follow. It would be a great feat for the 15-year-old Lindrum to defeat the players named, especially if Campbell involved his title. Though Walter promises to be a wonderfully good player, I am of opinion that he has hardly had enough experience to cope successfully with Campbell or the Smiths level, but if any games are arranged the experience should greatly benfit the wee Australian.

The semi-finals in the Eyre Cup were decided the other week at the Amateur Sports Club. J. Riddle de-

feated N. Peace after a good game, and Fred Farrell (sera’ch) beat E. Mahoney (115 on) by one point. The .finals in the snooker and billiard tournaments were played eff last week. Miss Ruby Roberts will commence her New Zealand tour in Auckland early next mor.ch, and will give exhibitions right through the Hominion. Taking her departure from the Bluff Miss Roberts will visit Tasmania on her way back to Melbourne. Later on Miss Ruby will again visit England and will probably play a match with an English lady who is being specially coached for the engagement.