THE BILLIARD MATCH FOR FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS A SIDE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 61, 28 August 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE BILLIARD MATCH FOR FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS A SIDE.

(From the Otago 7'7 tnean, Ang 9.) On Monday evening the Royal Princess Theatre was converted for the nonce into a gigantic billiard-room, the theatre having been engaged for the great match between Mr. Lamb, of Victoria, and Mr. Townsend, a gentleman amateur of this Province. Great interest bad been excitcijfrfrom the known proficiency of both players, and about 100 persons assembled in the theatre to witness the play. The table was erected on the pit floor and the other parts ot the house were appropriated to the spectators. A number of chairs were also placed in the pit round the table. At twentyfive minutes past eight o'clock the veteran player, Mr. Lamb, made bis appearance, and his antagonist being already in the room, they proceeded at once to string for the break, which was won by Mr. Lamb. At 1-past 8 o’clock the game commenced, Mr. Lamb playing oif with a miss in baulk. Mr. Townsend gave a miss, playing bis ball well under the right band cushion. The first score was made by Mr. Lamb, by a clever cannon, leaving an easy red hazard for the middle pocket, but which he missed. Mr. Townsend then went in and scored eight, leaving the balls well together, but finished bis first break by missing an easy cannon. Mr. Lamb, with a good cannon, brought the balls into a good position, and making a losing hazard oif the red, afterwards made up Ins score to 19. Mr! Townsend then went in for 3, and missing a red winning hazard again banded the game to bis antagonist, who making a good cannon, and a white losing hazard, brought up his game to 23. At this time the game bung considerably, botb players frequently missing comparatively easy strokes, and making but (rifling scores, leaving the game at a quarter to 9 o'clock Lamb, 41; Townsend, 16, Mr. Lamb playing. Mr. Lamb failed to continue his score, ami both players dodged about for safety. Mr. Townsend, bv a cannon, brought the balls well together, ami an excellent break was left; but owing io a little over strength, be missed a rather easy losing hazard, off the red, into the leit band corner pocket. For a succession of strokes neither players succeeded in accomplishing any particular advantage, and an amusing interval of clever sparring look place, each player giving a succession of safe misses. At this stage the game stood, Lamb, 45 ; Townsend, 24-; the red ball being well under (be top cushion and the play balls close to the cushion, near the side pockets. Mr. Townsend was the first to play off, but made no score; Mr, Lamb followed, making a good losing hazard oil the red, making bis game 50 ; and after pocketing bis adversary’s ball, lie made a very clever double baulk. Mr. Townsend still had nothing left, and Mr. Lamb then scored 7, and at 9 o’clock the game stood—Lamb, 62 ; Townsend, 27. Mr. Lamb then made three good hazards oif the white, into the left hand corner pocket, and afterwards a splendid winning red hazard, bringing his score up to 71. Tile game then proceeded —Townsend, 2 ; Lamb, 4 : Townsend, 4 ; Lamb, 0 ; Townsend, 6 ; leaving the ball over the middle pocket. Mr. Lamb making a losing hazard, brought bis adversary’s ball just over the baulk line, oif which lie succeeded in makiim five very elegant and dexterous losing hazards into the left hand corner pocket. Unfortunately not touching the ball, bis sixth attempt failed, and he went out after a break of 12. The game now stood 87 to 12, and the score languished for some time, as follows—Lamb, 2 ; Townsend, 2; when Lamb made a break of 24, the game standing at a quarter past nine o’clock—Lamb, 106 ; Townsend 44. The game proceeded—Townsend, 5 ; Lamb,

G ; Townsend, 3 ; Lamb, 2 ; Townsend, 6 ; Townsend 2-2 ; Lamb, 8 ; Townsend, 12 ; the game being at half-past nine—Lamb, 129 ; Townsend, 78. Mi 1 . Lamb then made a break of 15 ; followed by Mr. Townsend with a good screw for 3 ; afterwards giving a safe miss, the bulls being in line. The game again flagged, both players again losing good chances. Mr. Townsend made a red losing hazard into the middle pocket, leaving an excellent break, but which he failed to take advantage of. Mr. Lamb fluked a cannon, and each gave safe misses. The game proceeded by a series of short scores, until a quarter to ten when the game stood —Lamb, 170, Townsend, 93. Mr. Townsend playing, making a break of 5, followed by Mr. Lamb, who gave safe misses. Mr. Lamb then scored 5, ■i, 10, leaving the red ball close to the bottom cushion. about a foot off the left hand pocket, Mr. Townsend’s ball being below the middle right hand pocket. Mr. Townsend hero accomplished a very brilliant stroke, running through the red ball into the pocket, leaving an easy cannon afterwards. The game then stood—Lamb, 191 ; Townsend, 109. Considerable by-play now took place and at ten o’clock the game was—Lamb, 195 ; Townsend, 115. The game then proceeded— Townsend, 5; Lamb, 10; Townsend, 12, both playing more cautiously. Mr. Lamb then fluked 2, and brought both halls into baulk ; and afterwards scored 5,2, the game standing at a quarter prist ten o’clock —Lamb, 212 ; Townsend, 118. The score then proceeded—Tow nsend 3,2 ; Lamb 7 ; Townsend 9 ; Lamb 2 ; Townsend 6 ; Lamb 5 ; Townsend 5 ; Lamb 1 ; Townsend 1; Lamb 2; Townsend 3; Lamb 2; bringing the game at half past 10 up to 214 against 181, Mr. Lamb in hand, who, by a succession of clever strokes scored 7, S, when both players took a few minutes’ rest, the score being—Lamb 259, Townsend, 181. After a short rest the game was resumed with various success to botli players, until Mr. Townsend made, at half-past eleven o’clock, a splendid break of 48, bringing his score up to 259 to Lamb’s 297. The latter gentleman by judicious strength kept the balls m good positions, and brought the game to 323 to Mr, Townsend’s 259, when Mr. Townsend missed scoring several times, but after two small breaks brought his score up to 277, Mr. Lamb then being 352, scoring in his last break 19 off the balls. After some alternate strokes, each scoring a few, Mr. Townsend scored 22 olf the balls, making his score 317 ; but in spite of very gallant efforts he was unable to reduce the distance between himself and his opponent. At 12 o’clock the game stood—Mr. Townsend 325, and Mr. Lamb, 399. During the next quarter of an hour both gentleman displayed great caution each giving several misses. At 12.15 the game stood-—Mr. Townsend 344, and Mr. Lamb 452, the latter gentleman bringing Ins score up to that amount by a break of 17. During the next quarter of an hour Mr. Townsend gained ground considerably, making 42 in four consecutive breaks. Mr. Lamb during the same period only scored 18. At 12.30 the score was, Mr. Townsend, 394 to Mr. Lamb 443. During the next quarter of an hour Mr. Townsend made most of the play, and with a pretty little break of IS, brought his score up to 451, to Mr. Lamb 473. During that space of time no lower than 14 misses were given, 8, by Mr. Townsend, and 6, by Mr. Lamb. Mr. Townsend 451, and Mr. Lamb 473,was the state of the game at 12.45. During the following quarter, of an hour, Mr. Lamb increased his lead scoring 30 in two breaks. Mr. Townsend very unfortunatelv slipped his cue and left an easy cannon for his opponent. Let ween 12.45 and 1 o’clock Mr. Townsend scored 27 and Mr. Lamb 42, when the game stood—Mr. Townsend 478 to Mr. Lamb 515. There was now an interval of about a quarter of an hour. At half-past 1 the game stood—Lamb 539 Townsend 501, with a good break left, but having succeeded in making 2, missing an easy red hazard Lamb then went in and playing much more carefully, brought his score up to 518 to his opponents 510. At this stage Mr. Townsend got into excellent play, and after a succession of good breaks lie brought his score up to 549 to his opponent's 5G7. The game now became much more exciting, there being an evident impression that Mr. Townsend would soon reduce the difference between the players to nil, but he unfortunately left another opening for his antagonist, which Mr. Lamb did not fail to take advantage of, and at two o'clock the game was called—Lamb 599, Townsend, 578. From this time Lamb kept a a good lead, making a scries of good breaks, and increasing his score over Mr. Townsend at a quarter past two, to 61, the numbers being Lamb Ui 7, Townsend SSG. This advantage Mr. Lamb continued to maintain, the score at half-past two o clock being Lamb 691, Townsend 617. Lamb emit inued to play carefully, and Mr. Townsend made several very accomplished strokes, but the halls broke badly for him, and at quarter to three t he marker called the game, Lamb 718, Townsend G it). At 3 o’clock the players rested for another “spell,” Mr. Lamb’s ball being over the top corner pocket—red ball, centre of the table—Mr. Townsend’s bull a little below the centre pocket. 1 At- twenty-two minutes past 3 o’clock the play was resumed, the scores standing, Lamb, 7Go'; Townsend, 669; the latter player having the break. At four o’clock the game stood Lamb, 854, 750 Townsend. At half-past four the game stood Lamb 910, Townsend, 810. At 4.15 a.m., the game stood:—Lamb 921; Townsend, 872. In last break Lamb easily scored out, the game standing—Lamb 1000, Townsend 915. It was concluded at ten minutes past five o’clock. The victor was loudly cheered, and Mr. Townsend was also applauded. The latter part of the game was remarkably well played ou both sides ; in fact it is difficult to say which player showed the most skill.