NEW CHAMPION AT BILLIARDS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1057, 19 February 1880, Page 3

NEW CHAMPION AT BILLIARDS.

A new champion at billiards has made Lis appearance in England who promises soon to challenge the supremacy of Cook and Roberts. . The Sportsman by the last mail gives an account of an exhibition in which Mitchell, a Sheffield man, played with J. P. Bennett, the ex-champion, receiving 100 points.. The usual misses were recorded, and then off a fluke the Sheffielder put together 336, exactly the amount credited to him as a chief effort in his first heat with Richards, only this time the spots were 111 against 105 on'that occasion. The exchamphm was thus 437 to the bad. It was soon evident, however, that if Mitchell had not found his master at his own game, he had found a worthy mate, as the scratch player answered him with 37.9, in which were runs of 38, 10, and 73 spots. Bennett’s play in this break was perfection itself. Mitchell was then, silent for a time, while his opponent took,a commanding lead with beautiful breads.of 68, 148, (36 and 4 spots), and .150 (43 spots). These efforts took the game to 747—’ 478 in favor of the scratch player. Here, however, Mitchell by far outdid ''all his former attempts, as he manipulated the spot 170 limes, which took him ouf the winner in an unfinished break pf 622, when amidst the greatest applause he consented to finish his contribution. He then made 22 more red winners before he broke his fall innings spots). Both men, it will be seen therefore, played wonderfully well. In Mitchell’s case a fluke pr .two. certainly rendered great assistance, although they detract but little from his really extraordinary form; : This game only lasted one hour and forty-one minutes, and to show with what effect both men scored, it may be mentioned that throughout the game Mitchell took up the cue but eight times, including the introductory misses, which gave him - an average of 125 and a fraction for each innings. Bennett was only in charge of the table seven times, and his average for those efforts was fast over 106.