BILLIARDS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5238, 13 February 1928, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

VISIT OF CLARK McCONAUHY. * I A MEMORABLE EXHIBITION. The longhlooked-for visjt of Clark McConachy, N-Z. professional billiardist, to Paeroa eventuated on Wednesday, and those who were privileged to see this brilliant cueist in action on a standard table at Mr Herrold s. Cenhv'tral Billiard Saloon in the evening enT joyed a real treat. Timed to start at 8 p.m., the match was delayed about 25 minlutes owing to a fault in the main switchboard at the Aurora Theatre. On bdhalf of the citizens His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) exli'’* tended a hearty welcome to Mr McConachy ■ who, he said, came not as a stranger’ to Paeroa, as he had played previously at the Ohinemun Club some years ago. At that time Mr McConachy was a worthy champion, but since then he had added njore laurels to his crown apd was .world-renowned for’ his billiards. New. Zealandeirs /were proud of their champion, and Paeroa was privileged to have him visit the town. Congratulations were due to Mr Hejrrold on his enterprise in providing the exhibition they were all looking forward to so keenly. It was hoped that Mr McConachy Would enjoy his brief stay in the town, continue to win success and fame, ,ana would visit Paeroa on' some future

occasion. ■ . The Mayor then introduced Mr A. A. Ruston, and announced that he had been selected to play the champion a /match of 750 up, McConachy conceding 450 podnts. _ . The game proved very interesting, although it was an easy win for •the champion, the scores being 750 to 612. McCPnachy’s biggest break during the game was 318, compiled chiefly by top of-table cannons and potting the re for- position. Several masse shots played in order to manoeuvre the balls into position during the game. The local man stuck grimly to his opponent, his biggest breaks being 38 and 36*. The following are brief details of the game,McConachy broke up without scoring, and left his own ball in baulk. Ruston played a canndn, and then missed an easy inroff "the red at the top of the table. McConachy spored a 3 off the red, but failed in .a,n in-off the white. Ruston scored a couple, and the next visit by McConachy produced 10. Settling down to the game, Rustpn compiled-21, 'then! fluked a <3, and ran on to 35, wlieir he played a screW-back cannon but missed, and potted the red for a.break'of 38. Me-, Conachy scored 16/ Ruston following with 11. McConachy them scored 27, mainly by,'top-of-table cannons. Rus ton failed to score and McConachy’ added 14, antj with a difficult masse shot gained a cannon and ran on to 196, when the balls separated and he played another. masse which added four more to his score. At 293 he got a wonderful in off the red and completed his third century with a half■j'all in off the red from a difficult angle. He, was loudly applauded, and, playing great billiards, carried his total to 318, when he broke down bn an easy cannon off the white 1 . Ruston scored a 2 and McConachy 5, and Rus- , tolrt failed to go in off the red with his next shot. McCbnaehy then compiled 133 and with a masse off the red gained a clever canlrion but with his next shot he miscued. Ruston failed to/score and McConachy ran to 419, when a, kiss robbed him of an easy cannon. Ruston managed to pot the Ted, and after McConachy failed to score he added another 4. With the scores 547 to ’50.7 in- McConachy’s favour both players missed. For a num--1 ber of shots both-players added only small’ scores, until Ruston ran -to 19 and failed to pot the red. McConachy replied with 54. Play was again dull fpr several visits, until Ruston put up 34, finally potting his opponent with the red and finishing his break at 36. McConachy scored 4, and Ruston 2, and after the latter had ■ added another 2 McConachy ran out with an unfinished break of . 13, the game ending McConachy 750, Ruston 612. The players were heartily applauded on resuming their seats. ,

( THE SNOOKER MATCHES. Two games of snooker were than played, both, of which were won by McConachy,- who demortstra,ted the keenness of his slight a,nd his mastery inj securing a position on the coloured jfcbal'ls. His almost uncanny judgment' enabled Him to pot a. ball from almost any angle on tfae table. The first game was played against Ted. Lipsham, to whom McConachy conceded 28 (4 blacks). McConachy broke the ball up but did not score. sunk a red, and his total, points for the game amounted to lO*. The game ended McConachy 107, Lipsham 38. ■■ ' \ 1 In the second match Ray. Swann, whs the opponent, and he also, received 28. 'This proved to be a very much more even game,, and resulted in the players both requiring the black to win. Swann made, some good’ shots, but lacked confidence, otherwise he might easily have had the champion on his toes. With only the black reymaining, the scores, were Swann 54, McConachyi 50. Slwann had a crack at the black but 'failed to find the pocket. To those in the room the ball was apparently left safe, being under the cushion about half-iway along the bottom of the table, while the striker’s ball was at the other end of the table hiear the red ball spot. By a wonderful stroke McConachy drove the black- along the bottom cushion. It struck the, left-hand and came back along the cushion to fall cleanly into the hight-Hand bottom pocket,: giving McConachy a win by three points. EXHIBITION OF TRICK SHOTS. / At the conclusion of the matches /the cha’mpioni entertained the audience with an /exhibition of fancy shots, his efforts; including masse in-off and cannons, round-tfie-tablel cannons, cannons over and into a hat, and a clover can-non played by placing a ball on the floor a distance from the table, and with the red ball and striking ball close together on the table,

hitting the, red ball and jumping the table with with his own ball, which travelled along the floor and cannoned off the white ball placed there. At the conclusion of the match McConachy thanked the. Mayor for the hearty welcome accorded him, and said it gave him pleasure to again visit Paeroa. He congratulated h’s opponents on the good showing they had made, and said it had been a pleasure to meet such good spirts. He also thanked ’ the proprietor of the aloon for making the visit to Paeroa possible, anid congratulated him on his; fine; room and efficient arrangements.