THE first match of the season in Cottonopolis was played on Monday evening, the 18th, at the Queen's Theatre Hotel, Bridge-street, ostensibly for a piece of plate of the value of £100. As, however, the prize in question was merely a pleasant fiction and had no actual existence, the game was not so exciting as might otherwise have been the case. This practice of announcing imaginary stakes or trophies for competition cannot be too severely censured, though in the instance under notice, we believe the promoter of the match was alone responsible for this fictitious statement.
The game was 1,000 up, Timbrell receiving 300 points, and when play commenced the room was about half full. Timbrell played well on the average, and evinced more decision and promptitude than we have been accustomed to expect from him; some all-round cannons that he made were really brilliant, and the prettiest shots of the evening may be ascribed to him. The champion's play was for the greater part of the game careless and indifferent, and he several times failed to take advantage of the spot-stroke, his manipulation of which was at no time remarkable. In the latter half of the game, however, he brightened up, and showed good form, though not early enough to command the game, as the event proved. Play at the outset was very tame, neither scoring for some little time. The first break of any moment was 47 by Timbrell, who had entered his fifth century when Roberts was still in double figures. After some insignificant play, the latter put on 36, and shortly afterwards the game was called—Timbrell 424, Roberts 124, the champion thus pulling up for lost time.
Roberts now added 43 and 57, and Timbrell 31 and 59, and Roberts subsequently got set at the spot, but broke down after making six, the break realising 36. The game now stood—Timbrell 579, Roberts 298. A 35 and 26 from the latter were his next best contributions prior to the interval, Timbrell meantime improving his prospects by two useful breaks of 50 and 64. At the interval the game stood—Timbrell 736, Roberts 378.
Upon the resumption of the game, however, the champion showed that he meant business, and after 28 from Timbrell he worked up to the spot, broke down after making six Chassepots, worked up again and once more failed, after holing the red six times successively; this, with some splendid all-round play, realised the break of the evening—viz., 114. The game now stood—Timbrell 764, Roberts 511. Timbrell's play now fell off considerably, and Roberts, with two 35's and a 26, gradually crept up to the Liverpudlian. The latter now, by some careful play, put on his best break—89—all-round play, and Roberts now followed with 87, in which the spot-stroke figured sixteen times consecutively.
The game now was called—Timbrell 932, Roberts 742. The former put on 16, and then let in Roberts, who contributed a formidable break of 105 (18 spots), which greatly improved his chance. Timbrell now wanted fifty to win, but played nervously, letting in Roberts, who completed his ninth century, the game being called —Timbrell 956, Roberts 900. Timbrell still playing badly, Roberts put on 16, to which Timbrell managed to reply with. 12. Roberts then failed to score, and Timbrell put on 10. The match was now quite exciting, and the champion, who was 916 to 985, went on for the last time and broke down after putting together 22, leaving Timbrell an excellent position, which the latter successfully availed himself of, and finished the game, which stood at the finish—Timbrell 1,000, Roberts 938.