THE CHAMPION BILLIARD PLAYER.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 709, 27 September 1876, Page 2

THE CHAMPION BILLIARD PLAYER.

About 200 persons assembled last evening at Warner’s Hotel to witness the second exhibition match by Mr J. Roberts, junr. On this occasion the champion again played Mr Gollop, giving him this time 700 points out of 1000. Though Mr Roberts played some brilliant strokes during the game he was not by any means in as good form as the previous night, caused no doubt in a measure by his having spent the day rabbit shooting on the Waimakariri Island, Mr Gollop played with more apparent confidence than the previous night, making some excellent shots,and winning by 242 points, the scores being at the finish—Gollop 1001, Roberts 769. Daring the game and at its termination Mr Gollop was loudly cheered. His highest breaks were 45 (nine spot strokes), 39,19, 17, two 16’s, and three 14’s. The champion’s best break was 102, of which 33 were spot strokes, the other principal breaks being 69, 65, 58, 51, 50, 39, 3*. 33, 27, 26, 24, 19, and 17. During one of these breaks, Mr Roberts having succeeded in getting on the spot, put the red ball down 13 times, with every probability of making a long score, when, by a misjudgment of strength (probably from the cause previously stated), the ball did not travel the required distance by a couple of inches. Mr Gollop led with a miss in baulk, and for some little time the scoring was very slow, the balls breaking badly. Mr Gollop was the first to get into double figures with a break of 17, the champion following with 19, and succeeded amid much applause in getting on to his favorite stroke, which he, however, failed to make. Some good all round play followed, Mr Gollop making a splendid shot for a cannon ; the champion in his next break shewed his wonderful power of back screw. After reaching 18 in this break he got on the spot, and holding the ball three times missed. After a few more strokes by each player, Mr Gollop made his break of 45, putting down the red ball off the spot nire times. Mr Roberts' next best break was 65 (5 spot strokes). In the next he made a wonderful cross-cushioned hazard, the balls travelling in a most peculiar manner. In the succeeding break 30 were scored, 27 of this number being made off the spot. Mr Gollop in his following break of 14 played a splendid cannon the whole length of the table. The champien then made a break of 58, having nursed the balls until eleven cannons had been scored out of this number. The next best breaks were 33, 38. 39, 17, and 60, the latter being made up of 3 winning and 1 losing hazard, and 13 spot strokes. Mr Gollop’s next best breaks were 19 and 2 14’s, and after a few more strokes on each side, the champion made his highest break of the evening, viz, 102, having held the ball off the spot 33 times. The game then stood—Roberts 585, Gollop 912. After a short interval play was resumed, and when the score stood 601 to 918 the champion made a break of 26, Mr Gollop following at intervals with 2breaks of lf> each. These were succeeded by breaks of 9 and 51 by the champion, and when he had scored 710 to his opponent’s 957, having then worked up to the spot he offered to take £2O to £lO that he would win the game, without, however finding anyone to give the odds. Ho continued his break, and on reaching 69, (having out of that number put the ball down 20 times) he broke down. Mr Roberts afterwards missed one or two apparently easy strokes, and after an excellently played break of 39 by his opponent, the game was eventually called. Gollop, 1001 ; Roberts, 759 ; time, Ih 28min. Both players were cheered at the termination. The hundreds were scored by the champion during the same as follows :—lst, 22min ; 2nd, llmin ; 3rd, lOmin ; 4th. 15miu ; 6th, llmin ; 6th, 9min ; 7th, lOmin, Mr Roberts afterwards played five games of pyramids witb hissgL, Mr Colef giving him i balls

“ The champion won the first by 1 ball, the second by 7, and the third by 3 balls. In the other shames he forced his own ball off the table at the final stroke. Mr Roberts seemed to be tired before the games were finished, but played some woadeiful shots, holding eight balls twice in succession. This evening he will play Mr Weston, giving him 550 points out of 1000. Mr Weston was for some years champion of the Australian colonies, and as he has the reputation of being good on the spot stroke, besides an excellent all round player, the match to night will have additional interest.