A MATCH of 750 up, in which the ex-champion gave S. W. Stanley 200 start, was played at the Barley Mow Hotel, Duke-street, Grosvenor-square, on Monday evening last, followed by the best of seven games at pyramids, Stanley having the advantage of a ball in each game.
They started at ten minutes past eight, with the customary miss, and Cook opened the ball by putting together 89 by all-round play, nursing the balls cleverly. From 98 he scored 142 (four spots), to 238 on the part of Stanley, and, continuing to play in his usual form, 'he game stood—Cook 556, to Stanley's 356, when the interval was agreed to. On resuming play Cook continued to draw further away, and, winding up with a break of 75, won the match by 115 points. In the pyramids Stanley won the first game by 9 to 5, Cook the second by 8 to 6, Stanley the third by 9 to 6, Cook the fourth by 8 to 7, and the fifth by 10 to 5 ; Stanley won the sixth by 8 to 7, and the seventh by 8 to 4, thus being the victor in the best of the seven games. A table by Burroughes and Watts was used.
AN exhibition match, 1,000 up, was decided between these able exponents of billiards at Mr. Treadwell's, the Gloucester Tavern, Oxford-street, not far from the Marble Arch, on Thursday evening, in the fine billiard saloon attached to that establishment. Evans was in receipt of 150, and amidst a good attendance play commenced a few minutes after eight. The first break of any consequence was made by Evans by a fine ail-round 63, in which some lucky shots occurred; his opponent has not been in much practice lately, and was, moreover, unlucky, but a break of 59 made matters more equal. Evans's next best effort was 49, making his total 391 to Taylor's 312, but the latter soon altered the complexion of matters with a fine break of 140, in which the spot was manipulated 47 times running, and finishing with a miss-cue. Shortly afterwards, the same player placed 73 to his credit, and Evans followed with 52, in which he made 11 spot hazards, the scores then standing, Taylor 653, Evans 505, and the interval followed. On resuming play, Evans improved, and put together breaks of 87 (15 spots), and 35 (10 spots), but Taylor kept ahead, and the scores reached— Evans 756, Taylor 918, when the first-named put together 57 by all-round play, and Taylor ran to 941.
A run of 57, as his principal contribution, then brought Evans to 861, and Taylor once more had an opportunity, which he improved by running out with a 59 (16 spots), but being requested to finish his break, ho pocketed the red ball 43 times, making 183. W. R. Reading marked the game accurately, and the play occupied 2 hours 50 minutes. Taylor won by 141 points.