BILLIARDS.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 174, 21 April 1903, Page 4

BILLIARDS.

London, February 13

There was a considerable similarity between the two big exhibition billiard matches played -last week, each being won by a little over 300 points, and each by tb*e player who had for the most of the way had a good deal the worst of matters. In Dawson v. Diggle, in which the latter received a start of 1000 points in 9000, matters had gone'against the ex-chani-* pion until the fourth day, when by means of very fine play—amongst other good breaks, making runs of 419, 284, and 347 — -he caught and passed Diggle. Friday seen, the . last named in the better, scoring form, and with best runs of" 120, 262, 179,. 128, 200 ; and 240 he reached 7579 to Dawson's 7201. At the opening of the final day's pla3 7 , Dawson was at once bus3 T , onri with breaks of 158, 198, 154. 126, and 163 once more got to the front only to be quickly displaced by his op

patient's putting together 120, 100, and other good breaks. The neft big move came from Dawson irTthe Jshape of a splendid 362, and though Diggle came with successive runs of .107 and 195 the ex-champion was not to be caught, and he won a thoroughly in-

teresting and lively game by 376 points.

The contest between H. W. Stevenson and W. Osborne, in which the former conceded a.start of 4000 points in 9000, was left on Thursday night with the seorein the following position :

Osborne, 6985 ; showing both to be of what they should have scored at—€hat stage of the match. Friday's play sawStevenson compile 1646 points, while Osborne put on only 845—although the former scored only three "centuries" during the day—and this brought him to within 239 points of the leader. Next day the scratch man was soon at work, with breaks of 271 and 157, but Osborne kept him at bay till leaching 8289, when a 253. made in brilliant style, took Stevenson to the front for the first time in the game. The Leicester man struggled along pluckilv, but further three figure inningsof 280 and 190 took the champion well on tovyards the end, which he reached finally with a margin of 338 points to the good.

Stevenson made a big break in the course of a game of 800 up, at the Criterion Hotel, Shrewsbury, on Monday last, and it was'only a very unusual incident that cut it short; He was giving a local player a start of 400 points, but, soon getting well set he ran up a break of 588, and looked like going on much further when one of

the spectators accidentally pushed him, and made him miss his stroke—much to the indignation of the onlookers. Of course, if Stevenson had exceeded all previous records on "standand" tables,, it would not have counted as a new record, hotel tables not being of the measurements of match tables.

Dawson and Diggle are playing, at Birmingham, a match of 18,000 up, the latter receiving a start- of 2000 points. Both men have been showing slashing form, and breaks of over two hundred have been plentiful on either side. On Wednesday night Dawson had slightly the better position, he having reached his quota of points (4500), to Diggle's 5707, while yesterday the former did much bettei still, and at the conclusion of play was only 817 points behind his opponent, the scores reading : Diggle (receives 200) 6817; Dawson 6000. The latter made four breaks of £9O, 280, 272, and 186, to Diggle's best of 198, 156. 136, and 119.

A genuine money match was started on Monday last, between Harverson and lnman, the game being 16,000 up, level, and the stakes «£SQ a-side. The

two are old rivals, and the struggle is sure to be a keen t one. Tlp.fjto the present Harverson has come out best' and the scores last night read, Harverson 5333, Inmrn 4640. On the last occasion of the pair meeting Inmah was in play, and wanted 163 points to win, to his opponents 225. The former found, however, that the spot had come out of his ball, and consequently a new set was requisitioned. . Inman had a good leave on, but failed and Harverson, although playing with the set for the first time, went out with 225 unfinished in most sensational style.