BILLIARDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 263, 30 October 1908, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

AM JiAJiiBiU'ION. i \ interesting exhibition of billiards was given at the New Plymouth Uuib rooms last evening, when the Uray billiard combination (father a'Ul .!'' u ." 1 „* a »"<\ gave a taste of

tueir marvellous sk,JJ as expert cueist, 11 ere, was a very large attendance, hi U 018(11]) tin? Aiayor presiding, X\v games were played to give tile expert an opportunity of exhibiting their ibili i ' e '"' ril Was 11 " Ulkll l>etwee; : ua„t(. r Ueorgc «ray and Jlr. VV. Birch » which the latter was conceded i c P of 100 in a game of 000 i.in | fcooji aiter the balls were brokeai. tin i oung expert found the strength of tin if 2Uo illia i t h J " idCb ' r U,cd $ " of 200 with a number of bleaks, hh« largest of which was 38. At this sla"t tlie local player s score stood at 251 ■loung Gray's principal stroke is the .tang hazard into L centre i the led, and lie gave a taste of his quality l,y 1( I)aittv 3() 4)reak iiiK-h replied in yood, all-round 'billiards with a 27 break and "Sc woied read: Birch 2!)4,tlray 23a. George ~ G«y by th.s time had thi table °Z » -I " Th a,l " limUe eommand, and l'l.iy ng with a confidence that was " evelatwn to the spectators, ran up u.e best break Of the game-IOS-Bea? l ets Th 1 U * ( ''^ U pocUt»• Ihc consistency with which lie ian through ttio red into the pocke'i and brought the red back to position I gave the watcher the idea that he' could go on indefinitely. This excellent break gave Gray a lead of 47 Bird, IK g °"" »P n 23 'break, to wnith Giay replied with 24. It was not long before the visitor had reached I the 400 mark, at wind, time hi s 0 nents tally was 340. Gray's ;b cst run in the last hundred W as 2.3. .but all his shots .were nicely finished and an. education to the lover of billiards. He rin out the 500 when the local cueist's ,scoie read 4.18, thus winning the match wrth a lead of 62 amidst V".™ cues° e 000 WWC ma( ' c wit ' l

• -the next match was between Mr Ikrry Gray and Jlr. I!. VVoodliousc. lh 0,. hiimlied H p was tbe Joi.il piuui- i l ai- l iig a s t art; 0I I( j|| llr " "• fln, . v P'ays a distinctly tlill cnnt game from that of the clever jounpter. Ihe senior gave a display of all-round billiards, but confined Wmwn °r£ Cnt,rcJy to tlle tO P of the lh,; "'anni'r ra which he kept the balls around the spot and with intncate cannons losing hazards, pot stukes, and the like was fascinating to a degree. He opened with a pretty break ot 80—ail finished strokes. In hve cues Gray's score was 228, Woodhouse s tally being 103. In other words, (jiaj scored 228 to iris opponent's 43. Continuing the game Gray gave a taste of his skill and ran up the 300 in 37 minutes, with 11 cues, his best breaks tang iti and 32, wiping the match with a load of 02 points. lAfter tho second match Gray junior gave an exhibition of intricate lancv strokes, including the most difficult of the mass® strokes. In this work he has an undoubted gift, and it is doubtful whether so youthful and clever an exponent can be found in any part of the world. Mr, H. Gray followed with an exhibition of difficult, fancy and trick strokes, demonstrating his wonderful mastery of billiards.

The younger Gray is an Australian by I>irth, being born in Victoria. He was 10 years of age last March, and started 'billiards when 12 years and 5 months old. His record ibi'cak • was made In Brisbane, when he scored 513 points. This break was made up entirely of the losing hazard stroke—the ball being piloted into the pockets 171 consecutive times off the red. The Gray combination has other engagements to fulfil, including a visit to the Hawera Clu*). '

At the conclusion of the exhibition the Mayor, on helialf of the club, thanked the Messrs. Gray for their interesting and instructive entertainment and proposed a hearty vote of thanks, which was curried by acclamation. Mr. Farrcll, the manager of the combination, responded, The taible used is an Alcoek table fitted with patent metelbok Brazilian cushions and crystalate balls. The visitors expressed themselves as highly pleased with the table. The visitors were entertained at supper by the club after the exhibition.