BILLIARDS.

Evening Star, Issue 4229, 14 September 1876, Page 2

BILLIARDS.

EOBEETS V. WESTON.

The most interesting billiard match ever' played in the Colony came off at the Temperance Hall last evening, when the champion of England and the champion of the Australasian Colonies met for a friendly game. Mr Weston received 500%»oints.out of 1,000, the lowest: number conceded by Mr-Roberts to aDy Colonial player; but as our local man frequently runs up breaks of 80 or 90 in private play, it was thought that he would give a very good account of himself. The Hall was crammed in every part, even the gaTery being crowded with spectators. On entering ths room the players were received with a burst of applause, Mr Weston especially receiving an encouraging ovation. No time was lost, but the' game was proceeded with as follows: itouertß broke the balls with the usual miss in baulk, Weston giving a miss under the left-hand cushion. Roberta lid not Weston drew first blood with 6, breaking down on"a rather easy red winning hazard. 507—1. . Both players then made small scores for several rounds until Roberts fait his way to a small but pretty break of 34, Weston responding with a nicely-played 26 and a double baulk. 552—46. .Each then added 10 to his score, and misses were given. 564—57. Roberts then after a couple 6£ canons got behind the Ted on the spot and put it down: eleven times, then, losing position, turn d hisiattention to all round play; out when the break amounted to 117 lost his opponent's ball;. potted the red in the middle and got down to the spot, making three of these and two losing hazards before breaking down at an easy one".. The break numbered 135, and Roberts was rapturously applauded for bis beautiful play. 546—192. Weston got an opening and contributed 15, and Roberts added to his score 18, 6, and 28, losing a good break by missing an easy white losing hazard from baulk. 579—245. After 2 was scored on each side Weston ran,up to 600 amidst applause with 19, then letting Roberts in, who made a grand cannon when the balls were apparently safe and scored 64 by .all-round play before putting his cue down. 600-311. Weston scored 17, and then, as bad been, unfortunately' the case all along, left the balls in good position for Roberts. The latter got them together nicely and made 20 with his clever nursing-, cannons, when he just, missed one by a hair s breadth. 617—331. Weston made a pretty break of 27, and then mnved his ball a few inches with his cue before intending to strike it. Roberts did not,' however, take advantage of the foul shot, but courteously gave his opponent the shot over again amidst loud applause. Weston failed to score,, and the game stood 638—331. Roberts then got in again, and after scoring 51 about the middle pockets and baulk-end of the table, got the balls down to his favorite end, and, keeping them beautifully (together, amassed 120 before, failing on a difficult white .loser. In this large break there' were only three consecutive spot strokes. 638—451. Weston did not niter the score, p.nd Roberts contributed 24, then missing a simple losing hazard in the corner pocket. Weston seemed now to! have become more used to the strength of the table, and ran up a nicely played break of 41, for which he was loudly cheered. 679—475. This he followed up with 12, when the balls were left in piuy for Roberts, who however lost the white md g:ive a miss in baulk. After, no scoring'jfor a time on either side Weston added 37 to his score, leaving an openintr for Roberts, who took advantage of it to the tun* of 27. 711—510. Ho next contributed 15 and 19, leaving Weston nothing but double baulks to play at, but at' last getting a chance the latter ran up 22 and then missed a rather easy white loser in the middle pocket. 740—544. A rather long interval now took place. On resuming, Westoh played even better than during the early part of the game, qtnVkly contributing breaks of : ; 8 and 13. Roberts in the meantime scoring only 2, Weston continued with a splendidly played, allronnd break of 53, and was loudly cfcowed. 834—647. The gap of 196 between the players at the interval was thus increased to £B7. Roberts, however, soon began making up bis lost ground, passing his sixth hundred with a brilliant break of 62, followed up immediately with 38 and 24. 834—671. Weston, meanwhile, failed twice, and at last made a red hazard; but Roberts came again with some beautiful cannons, then made a Biiocof.6ion of white loiuhk hazards, the rod lx int* iu baulk; not the balls together again by a niugnincent scicwback cannon, rind did not n.r> down till his-score was increased by 70.—(Loud applause.) 687—741. Weston thin ran , up a good 35, including (some ..fine red losing hazards,-and. Roberta 22,..then losdnjr the white and giving a dcuble,baulk. 872—763. Weston played up tbe.tabi and potted the red, the a fteak yleldjng

21, hut his opponent now got the baUstogetlier again at the topvend>f the table, and by del&te&nrsinff cannons and wonderfully #ne losing hazards Hit the top earners added a iue break of 93 to huaoore, end get into the same handled as Weston. 803-356. Weston then'had a torn, making*' 4 end a nicely playpd 25—|na'ball then flying off the table—to flobertss 8. D 22-884. The passed into his tenth hundred with a good break of 48, Ravins; a dot&le baUDc. 923—912.: Weston not Scoring, Eoberar again -<got an opening l , and pawed hu opponent ma break of 31, missing* Bcrew cannon* WestOn potted the white, and gave a doublej»ulk. 925-943. with'the buttjAnd of Ms cne,'and dbtained3|*oT»der. folly Judged. Sbut at the Bame time rtlttw luoiy cannoU, aud obtaining posititttCpff ft, it was thought he would ruu oleah ««t. . JHoweVer, after totting up 38 lie broke down at* long posh ouinon, giving Weston another chance... Weston playing carefully increased his scoreoy 21, but then unfortunately missed a led losing hazard in the top oorner, owing perhaps to the difficulty of the pockets. Roberts then got on to the spot, and ran out with an unfinished break of 21, From the commencement of the match it could be seen that Boberts put forth all' his power! and did not throw away a chance. In several instances he did not attempt to score, but played for safety. Weston phyed very well indeed throughout, ~» was at the disadvantage of not having so much acquaintance with the strength of the table and the difficulty of the pockets as the English ohampicm tad. At. the conclusion of the match Mr Soberts . made the remark that Mr Weston iB by fax the best player he has met in the Colonies. This evening a return match between Mir Boberts' and Mr Weston will be played, and another exciting'' contest may be looked for. The prices for reserved - seats have been reduced to 7s6J, and for the gallery to2s6d. : Mr C. Mansen has accepted Mr J. Nesbitt's ohal. lenge to play 1.W.0 up, level, for LIOO and. ' the match will come off at the Temperance Pjm! oh Messrs Thurotou's table at the conclusion of Mr Roberta's season.