Yesberg Untroubled To Win Billiards

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 18

Yesberg Untroubled To Win Billiards

Before a large number of spectators at the Returned Services Association rooms last evening, T. Yesberg won his seventh Canterbury amateur billiards title, beating E. Simons, 666 to 403. The play was marked by two styles in direct contrast.

Yesberg approaches each shot with thought and pur- ; pose. Simons proves a player who mapped his moves at a glance. In the first 90-minute session, trailing by many points, Simons was inclined to speed his action and miss many scoring chances needlessly. He gave a more constructive exhibition in the second session, but Yesberg's lead was then almost invincible. It was the fifth time the two players had met in a Canterbury final. Yesberg's worst shot of the evening was at his first visit to the table. On breaking the red bain to begin the match, he left it over the centre pocket with the white also In play. Simons failed to do justice to the opening end scored only five. Three v-istts later he was facing a deficit of 86 points, and with Yesberg tn form the pressure was on.

Simons found difficulty in amasis-lng any breaks of conse quence, and with his opponent playing seml-safety rather than direct aggression. the lefthanded Simons faced an uphill struggle. H’s first hour's plav gave him a total of 111. with in average of 5.2 a vl*lt to ths table. During this period Yesecored 216 at an average Just before the 10-mdnute interval, Yesberg scored a fine losing hazard from a difficult angle, and also a magnificent break of 78. At the interval Simons trailed. 179-396, and h‘.s prospects of winning appeared slim. However, on resumption he whetted the appetite of the spectators with a thoughtful and much needed break of 77. Yesberg maintained a strict control on possible avenues of error. These tactics, plus a skilful break of 78. made any further efforts by Simons oniv token reeiatance. The final score with best breaks in parenthesis were: Yesberg 6«« (64. 41, 41. 78, 64), Simons *3 (77).