BILLIARDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2574, 1 May 1923, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

Last Saturday evening l Mr MeConachy, the New Zealand billiard professional champion, visited Poxton for the purpose of keeping his appointment, with the local followers of the game and of demonstrating the hidden mysteries of the art to the initiates as'well as to those who considered themselves eminently proficient. Without any formal ■welcome or ceremony a match of 750 was immediately arranged with Mr K. Hirini, a local promising cueist, who received a start of 450. The champion’s initial stroke was a long jenny into No. 3 pocket, which was comfortably accomplished. Although a miss-cue discontinued his break at 5, yet to the keen observer, the first impression went a long way to indicate the skill behind the rod which propelled the balls. This stroke alone made a good impression on the natives who were fully represented and who, with one accord, exclaimed: “Pye korie, tat te wery good shart.” Whenever the artist brought off a difficult stroke the natives groaned in amazement as they had never before seen the game played so scientifically. The champion could have won the match - at any stage, but was satisfied in prolonging the game as far as possible without allowing it to lose any of its interest. Prom the very commencement to the end the match was bright and skilful because every stroke the champion made was genuine. Bryant’s saloon was taxed to the utmost of its seating capacity. The match lasted about an hour and a-half and the scores which were audibly proclaimed at intervals of five minutes, were as follows: — Hirini 450, 457, 450, 472, 477, 488, 490; 502. 500, 530, 547, 552. (512, 030, 033, 038, 040. McOonachy : 0,5, 27, 77, 80, 100, 106, 112, 250, 207, 207, 327, 453. 552, 557, 005. 751.

In conversation with the champion subsequently, he said that there was no royal road to proficiency at billiards, except by practice. The man who spent many pounds in lessons would never make a player unless he practiced assiduously. TTe would earnestly advise the would-be good players to “practise and persevere,” play with better players and watch the play of professionals whenever possible. The exhibition was brought to a close by a skilful demonstration of about a dozen shots such as: — 1. Masse in off the white without touching the red. 2. Five shots, (cannon off the red on to the white and screw back into the pocket. 3. Steeplechase shot. (In off red without touching white). 4. Eight shots (pot the red and cannon and go back and then in off). 5. Masse cannon with three balls in line. G. Masse in off red around white into the centre pocket. 7. In off white with two white balls in line with-centre pocket. 8. Cannon into the hat. 0. Cannon into the hat off the table. 10. Masse three balls into centre pocket one after the other, each of which was hard up against the cuslfion.