OVAL BILLIARDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 77, 24 December 1907, Page 9

OVAL BILLIARDS.

THE FIRST TABLE MADE IN AUSTRALASIA. A D,omixiox representative, who is somotimos guilty of a ten break, played a game, or rather tried to play a , -game, on tho first oval billiard tablo that has been mado south of tho line. Tho game as a game was an absolute failure, but as a novelty tho experience was vastly entertaining. An oval tablo cicates a now game altogether. The old-timo billiard player, most eruditoin angles, is utterly confounded by the behaviour of tho balls as they run into now problomsl at every stroke. Playing a ball fidl from one end to tho side of tho top of tho end curve, it travels to the opposito side, but a littlo running side on tho same stroko, and the ball follows tho cushion round, hitting it overy foot or. so. Midtablo play is, of eourso, unaffected, but bring the continuously curving cushions into use and difficulties of an , amusing character confront the cueist at once. Tho pockets aro harder to find—they seem all jaw—yet the openings are precisely tho samo width as on tho ordinary tablo,' The table, which is full-sized (12ft. by 6ft.)j has been manufactured by Messrs. Wright, Ranish, and Co., and is at present on view at their show-rooms in Upper Willis Street. It. is an oxquisito piece of work, that must command the admiration of all lovors of clover tradesmanship. It is mado of finely-figured .mahogany and Australian blackwood, beautifully inlaid with West Indian satinwood, after the famous "Sheraton" stylo. It is supported on eight massive brass-footed legr,—one at oach end and.three on each side—and everywhere there is the representation of a shell inlaid in gleaming satinwood. It is fitted with, the latest Riley pockets, and has tho latest stylo of low cushions. The tablo was made under, tho direct supervision of the firm's foreman, Mr. W. Devft.

"It is generally accepted" (says "M.A.P.") "that there will bo a desire for experimenting on Arc-oval billiard tables. • Ono of the greatest advantages that. a full-sized oval table possesses is that it can bo put into a smaller room than tho ordinary 12 by 6 square-cornered tablo demands. Taking a room 20ft. by, say, 12ft.,, thoro will only.bo two inconvenient positions—whon tho ball is tucked up. at either tho right or left-hand side. Many men possess a room this size —oven a shorter one will do —and acknowledgo that the acquisition of a billiard' table is a groat attraction, especially in a country house. I think tho fact of Weiss beating' Roberts ,at. the new game suggests that the innovation..may bo popular, inasmuch as playors of varying skill may bo put on more of a lovel without the necessity of, giving or taking points. It is a iiow game for both tho moderate player and tho expert, and the , latter iri somo respects may bo under as great disability as tho former. Tho full-size oval is certainly much hotter than tho half or three-quarter sizo affairs, which spoil,' one's strength whon roturning to tho regulation build." . '

A. special invitation extended to tho members of the Central Club attracted a considerablo number of players to Messrs. Wright, Ranish, and Co.'s rooms in Willis Street last evening. Scvoral exhibition games wero played on the new oval tablo,

and Iho playors wero woll pleased' with tho tablo, .although they, were not able to master the cushion work. Tho first game of 100-up caused considerable' amusement. Both playors wore good exponents of the game, ono of the cuoists having tho reputation of boing the champion of tho club. The gamo was comploted m twenty-five minutes, the highest break, boing 25, with soveral smaller onos of 15. and 12. A second 100-up also took twenty-fivo .'minutes to complete. Straight-out cannons and hazards were the most prolific scoring shots, but when itcamo to playing anything oIF tho "cush" the players wero hopelessly lost, and scratched tho'ir heads in perplexity as the balls took unexpected -angles. Tho general opinion of tho playors was. that'the oval table calls forth exceptional skill, and provides an exciting game.