THE CHAMPION BILLIARD PLAYER.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 710, 28 September 1876, Page 3

THE CHAMPION BILLIARD PLAYER.

The match last might between the Cham, pion and Mr Wesson—the latter receiving the long odds to such an opponent of 550 points out of 1000—was in all departments of the game certainly the finest exhibition of billiards we have yet had in Christchurch, or perhaps taking it all round, ever seen in the colonies. Mr Roberts was in splendid play, and the unerring precision of his hazards was wonderful. During the game he made a break of 298, his top score we believe yet made in New Zealand, out of which number 94 were spot strokes. At one period of the evening he scored 300 points in seventeen minutes. Shortly before his large break he made 106 by splendid ad round play. It has been noticeable during his play here that when the champion breaks down at his favorite stroke, it is five times out of six at the right hand corner pocket. The next best breaks made by him were 61, 58, 53, 51, 49,37,35,34, 25 (.twice), 23, 22. and 18. The result was a triumph for the champion by 76 points, the game being finally called—Roberts, 1000 ; Weston, 924. Both players were loudly cheered at the termination of play. . - Mr Weston was also in magnificent play. He possesses plenty of confidence, plays easy and quick, but has not the delicacy of stroke or finish of the champion. He played some magnificent shots during the game, some of them showing great power of side, After Mr Roberts’ large break, and with all the odds against him, he scored 84 by fine all round play, being, however, favored by a fluke when he had reached 42. This break was said to be'the highest yet made against the, champion in the colonies. Mr Weston’s other best breaks were 40, 37, two 23’s, two 22’s, 17, 16, 14, 12, 10, The champion broke the balls with the usual miss in baulk, and in his next turn made a break of 18, Weston shortly afterwards following with 22, during which break he made a splendid side screw hazard off the red ball, and a long losing hazard. The next best break was 22, the red ball hanging over the pocket when he had worked his own ball into position for the spot stroke..: His next break wap 49, with 14 spot strokes, the .ball again hanging over the righthand pocket. Weston played throe breaks, 23, 22, 87, by splendid all round play, the champion following with a break of 37, in which he made two wonderful cush cannons. After further breaks at intervals of 12, 25, and 23, —Weston’s highest break during the same period being 10—the game stood—Roberts, 201 ; Weston, 687. Breaks of 34, 51, 61 (16 spot strokes), 58, 53, and 25 (5 spot strokes) by the champion followed in quick succession, Weston having in sametime made breaks of 40, 14, 16, and 17, by fine all round play, when the game was called—'* Robert, 502; Weston, 793. After a short interval play was resumed, Weston, during a break of; 23, being loudly applauded for a splendid cannon off three cushions. After breaks of 12, 25, and 13, Mr Roberts, by a wonderful exhibition of all round play m«de made a break of 106, Weston, after two small scores, missed two apparently easy shots, and after a break of 7, the champion, having scored 16, worked up to the favorite spot, and amid loud and prolonged applause, put the red ball down 94 times in succession; total break, 298. Game—Roberts, 984 ; Weston, 833. After a cannon, Weston in the next break, by both plucky and splendid play made 84, the interest in the game becoming most exciting when it was announced that he had entered his last hundred- After a break of 9 by the champion, the balls broke badly for Weston, who made a small score in one break, missing in the next, and Mr Roberts ran out. Game—Roberts, 1000 ; Weston, 924. The room was densely crowded during the evening, and both players were loudly cheered. The champion scored each hundred the following time: —Ist, 19min; 2nd, 13min; 3rd, 15min; 4th, lOmin; 6th, Bmin; 6th, 14min; 7th, Bmin; Bth, smin; 9th, 4min; 10th, lOmin. Mr Roberts plays Mr Weston again this evening, giving him 450 points out of 1000, the spot stroke being barred ito the champion.