Although Harverson made a great effort to retrieve his position in his match against Ferraro, he found that the leeway he had fallen into was too much for him, and eventually he was beaten by 2,782 points, the final scores reading: Ferraro (receives 4,000), 16,000; Harverson 13,218. Harverson made one record break, his 499 just beating William Mitchell's previous South African record by two points.
During the closing stages of the game Harverson accomplished one of the greatest performances of his career in scoring 1,357 points in seven completed innings and returning an average of 108. The Transvaal Leader states that it was clear that he was going "all out" in an effort to beat the South African record break of 497 standing to the credit of William Mitchell. Harverson, in his first attempt, did not succeed in bettering the figures put up by Mitchell.
His progress came to an end at 426, when he was confronted with an ugly red loser which proved too much for him to surmount. A little later in the session he registered a grand 362, and then at his third big attempt he succeeded and compiled a flawless 499.
It was a typical Harverson break, containing many runs of nursery cannons and much good all-round work "in the country," as well as plenty of clever top-of-the-table manipulation.
In its compilation was witnessed some of the best billiards which have been seen in what was a memorable match, with both men in turn on occasion at the very top of their form. Harverson was never in difficulties until he had passed the 400 mark. A grand run-through white loser extricated him then from one tight corner. Later, when 480, he was compelled to pot his opponent's ball, with no other possible shot presenting itself.
Left with the red ball alone available, Harverson had just succeeded in beating Mitchell's figures of 497 when a wide screw loser at the middle pocket proved his undoing, and he retired the holder of the new figures for South Africa of 499.
Ferraro, who is 33 years of age, is entirely self-taught, and has hitherto been without opportunities of meeting really first-class cueists. The opinion of experienced players in South Africa is that Frank Ferraro has a great future before him in South Africa as he improves every time he goes to the table, and he is bound to rapidly forge ahead if he comes into contact with other leading players of the Old Country.
Harverson has been doing good business in South Africa. His cue competition has proved a great success with the Colonial amateurs. In his big match at Johannesburg with Ferraro, by the way, the interesting innovation was made of admitting ladies free. The match was played with crystalate balls.
Inman was to meet Ferraro in 18,000 up on August 21. Inman and Harverson did not appear likely to meet, the point of difference being the question of "start or no start."
The second Reece-Lindrum match in Australia (mentioned in the article "With Reece in Australia") was won by Lindrum by 861, the final scores being:—Lindrum, 16,000; Reece, 15,139.
To make the two balls in croquet playing pursue required courses, the mallet has merely to be aligned so as to bisect the angle formed by two imaginary lines, one of which passes through the centres of both balls, whilst the other takes the intended direction of the rear ball. This may be perfectly illustrated on the billiard table by placing two balls, touching, in a line with a top corner pocket and aiming midway between such pocket and the opposite corner pocket, when both balls should disappear.