ON Friday, the 14th of May, a match took place between W. Cook, the champion, and T. Taylor, he latter receiving 300 points in a game of 1,000 up, he stake being £200. It will be remembered that these players have twice met for a similar sum, each winning one match. On the first occasion Cook gave Taylor the same number of points as he did on the recent occasion, viz., 300 in 1,000, and met with a severe defeat. Indeed, Taylor then played so well that he was thought by many as likely, should he continue improving, one day to be able to meet the champion even on level terms. Such hopes have, however, been scattered to the winds. Another match was made between the two, in which Taylor received only 200 instead of 300, The match was played immediately after the great Billiard Tournament, which took place in January, at Bennett's rooms in Oxford-street. Taylor's play during the handicap had been of a first-class order; he lad succeeded in winning the prize awarded to the maker of the highest break, and would probably have won the handicap had it not been for an unfortunate dispute about a foul stroke.
The match, however, proved most disastrous. Cook won by no less than 474 points in addition to the 200 that he gave.
The match, therefore, on the 14th of last month may be looked upon as a sort of "conqueror game."
In the early part both men undoubtedly played badly. The heat, unfortunately, was intense, and was thought by some to have affected the set of balls which were used. It should be borne in mind that ofttimes when a top room is used for a billiard match, the table that may be perfectly level half-an-hour before play commences, may get slightly out of the horizontal directly a large number of persons take their seats, thereby causing a sudden pressure of several tons' weight extra on the beams of the floor. We cannot say that such was the case in the match in question, but as some remarks have been made with regard to the accuracy of the table, or balls used in this match, by some of our contemporaries, it is as well that the real cause should be pointed out. There are some floors so unstable, especially in old country hotels, that it is absolutely impossible to get a perfectly level table, even if it be attended to half-a-dozen times during the game. The game, as we have said, was uninteresting at starting. On the game being called, Cook 235, Taylor 516, no break of 50 had been scored by either player. The champion then scored three consecutive breaks of 41, 47, and 72, thus bringing his score up to 395 to Taylor's 591.
On Taylor's reaching 607 to Cook's 447, the former, however, showed his old form, and a magnificent break of 158, containing no less than 47 spot-hazards, increased his lead to more points than he originally had given him, as the game then stood—-Taylor 765, Cook 447. The latter, however, possesses in no ordinary degree the good old English quality of never knowing when he is beaten. Soon after, Cook scoring four breaks dunning of 63, 80, 94, and 53, again got within an uncomfortably near distance. Taylor in the meanwhile had replied with but one good break of 87. Another break of 74 from Cook at length brought him to 827 to Taylor's 903, and Taylor certainly looked liked winning. He failed, however, to make more than six, whereupon Cook played a magnificent break of 173, and won the game off the balls. This break contained only sixteen spot-hazards; 125, therefore, of it was by all-round play.
Without for one moment detracting from the merits of the winner, we cannot help giving a word of sympathy for the loser. Taylor has had undoubtedly a run of most unmerited ill-luck of late. It is rarely in matches that such immense breaks are made exactly at the moment when they are most wanted, though certainly Cook is famed for being a brilliant finisher.
In the great tournament this year, Taylor scores the largest break (248), but does not win. Again, in the great four-handed match for £400, with Stanley for a partner, he is defeated by Cook and Roberts, notwithstanding again making the best break in the match—one of 345.
Again, in the present match at 909, with only 91 to win, and Cook nearly 100 behind, is the cup of victory dashed from his lips, the moment he seemed likely to drain its contents.
Should Taylor retire from the billiard world, as it is rumoured he intends, he will undoubtedly be a great loss. Should he turn from the green cloth to the far broader green turf for the exercise of his undoubted abilities, we can only trust that better luck will attend him.