ON Thursday evening a most interesting match at billiards was played in the large room of the Bull Hotel, specially set apart for the occasion, between Mr. Louis Kilkenny, of Halifax, described as the champion of Yorkshire, and Mr. Herbert Wortley, of Burnley, who is styled—and, indeed, has repeatedly proved himself to be—the champion of Burnley.
The audience, which was moderately numerous, was of course, confined to admirers of billiard accomplishment, and seldom, it may be said, have they had the pleasure of witnessing a finer display of billiard performances than was shown in that contest on Thursday night. The playing of Kilkenny was pretty as well as perfect, the perfection which he has evidently acquired as a master of the art being truly astonishing, and although he was defeated by one of our townsmen, his performance on Thursday night merited no small share of congratulation.
Of Mr. Wortley it may be said that he has excelled to a considerable degree as a player of billiards, and in beating Kilkenny—who is considered to be about the sixth in order of merit below the champion of England—although he received a considerable number of points to commence with, has added another jewel to his crown, which at least in the billiard world will be regarded as worth possessing.
The game was one of 1,000 up, Wortley receiving 400 points to commence with from Kilkenny. During the work of scoring the first 600 points by Kilkenny he made no breaks of more than 44, although he scored often such breaks as 36, 27, 20, 30, 15, 18, &c. Wortley, in the meantime, had scored admirably, and like his opponent scored repeatedly breaks of 20, 23, 30, &c., and when an interval took place, half of the game then having been played, he had succeeded in keeping ahead of his opponent by 305 points. The game was then called as follows—Wortley 704, Kilkenny 499. During the scoring of the 499 points Kilkenny had therefore only gained 95 points upon Wortley, but still it was expected that he would, on again resuming play, pass Wortley and defeat him easily.
Wortley, however, on again taking up his cue, showed that he was no contemptible combatant in a billiard tournament and amidst the applause of the audience played so successfully that he came off the winner, leaving his opponent a considerable distance behind. In this part of the game Kilkenny made some beautiful cannons and winning and losing hazards, and succeeded in displaying great efficiency in the spot stroke, on one occasion making fifteen consecutive spot strokes. The breaks he made during the second part of the game were also larger than those he had made during the first part of it. The largest break of the game was 87, and was made by Kilkenny, the largest break made by Wortley being 62. Wortley also displayed great efficiency in the spot stroke, and, when he had got possession of it, pocketed the red ball a considerable number of times.
Both players complained that the table was not quite level, and Mr. Kilkenny remarked, casually, that on that account it would be a drawback to good play. At the conclusion of the game Herbert was 1,000, whilst his opponent was 898—thus having scored 600 points, whilst Kilkenny scored 898.
After the conclusion of the billiard game, the players entered into a pyramid contest, at which they played five games, Kilkenny giving Wortley two balls each game. The result was as follows:—First game, Kilkenny 10, Wortley 5; second, Kilkenny 8, Wortley 6; third, Kilkenny 10, Wortley 3; fourth, Kilkenny cleared all the balls; and fifth, Kilkenny 11, Wortley 4. Both players were heartily cheered at the conclusion of the contest.—Preston Guardian.
A MATCH, on what may almost be called the eve of the championship, between the two players, must of necessity be interesting, and the wonder therefore was that a greater attendance did not take place at the Cremorne Arms, Cremorne Road, on Monday evening last, to witness a match of 1,000 up between the two best players, not only of the age, but of ages past.
We do not know who the persons were who were responsible for the advertising of the match, but we would suggest that the simple announcement, Cook v. Roberts, 1,000 up, London, was somewhat vague. There is a story told of an old lady in the country who addressed a letter to "my son in London," and that the son obtained the letter by asking at the General Post Office for a letter "from my mother in the country."
By almost as great a chance we found ourselves just in time, at the Cremorne Arms, to witness the cracks perform. Roberts was the first to score, as by means of a break of 46 he reached 53 to Cook's 7. Soon after, however, Cook followed a break of 28 with another of 70, and after this made another of 49, thus reaching 158 to Roberts's 82. By steady and careful play, Cook, by means of breaks of 38, 47, 41, and 31, reached 391 to Roberts's 181, whereupon the latter made a fine break of 111, including 29 spot hazards, and followed up the break after one failure with another of 56. Cook, however, responded to this 111 with a break of 84, and at the interval the game stood—Cook 500, Roberts 357.
Soon after resuming play, Roberts scored 37, and reached 416 to Cook's 536, whereupon Cook made three splendid breaks in succession—viz., one of 88, another of 229, and the third 134; the first break contained 16 spot hazards, the second 66, and the third 32. This brought Cook up to 987, and in the intervals between these splendid breaks Roberts had only succeeded in reaching 454, whereupon Cook made the required 13 points, and thus won the same by 546 points.
ON Wednesday afternoon a match took place at the Guildhall Tavern, Gresham Street, between W. Cook and Tom Taylor, the latter receiving 180 points out of 750. The room was very crowded, and much interest was experienced in watching Taylor play, who has not appeared often of late in public, but whose play on Wednesday proved not only that he has not gone off, but gives signs that he has absolutely improved by his rest from public performances.
The first game on Wednesday commenced at two o'clock in the afternoon, and in the early part of the game Taylor appeared to have it all his own way, as, by means of a 33 and 58 break, both all-round ones, he succeeded in reaching 370 to Cook's 93. Here, however, Taylor began to show his form, and a splendid break of 223 brought him to 593. The break contained no less than 67 spot hazards, 45 in the early part, and 22 in the latter. Taylor followed up the break with another one of 46, and soon after with one of 85, containing 24 spot hazards, and thus reached 742 to Cook's 149. The latter here playing well, as he always does when behind, played a fine break of 111, which included 19 spot hazards, and thus reached 260, when Taylor scored game, winning by 480 points.
The billiard match was followed by one at pyramids, the best of seven games. Taylor won the first, Cook the second and third, and Taylor the fourth, fifth, and sixth, thus being successful in both matches.
These same players again met in the evening to play two similar matches to those they had played in the afternoon; the result, as will be seen, being again highly favourable to the younger and rising player. The game being the same—viz., 750 up, and Taylor receiving 180.
Both players were in first-rate form. A break of 71, all-round, brought Taylor to 268 to Cook's 66; Cook's breaks having been one of 30 and another of 33. Soon after, 55 from Taylor and 32 from Cook brought the game—Cook 113, Taylor 344. At this point for some little time Taylor seemed to stick, as beyond small breaks he did but little, and it is but fair to say he had but little chance. A break of 64, 18 spots, brought Cook to 210, and soon after a break of 86, 17 spots, followed by one of 88, 20 spots, brought Cook to 431 to Taylor's 379. Another break of 33 soon brought up Taylor's score to 412 to Cook's 433. On the latter, however, reaching 457 to Taylor's 424, Cook made another fine break of 110, including 28 spot hazards, reaching 567. Taylor, however, had to play, and starting from 424 quietly ran out with a break of 326 off the balls, the break including no less than 93 spot hazards. On Taylor being asked to continue his break, he went on and scored 26 more red winning hazards, making the whole break 404. Taylor thus won the game by 183 points.
The match at pyramids that followed, Taylor receiving one ball, likewise proved a victory to the receiver of odds, as Taylor won the odd game. No great breaks particularly worthy of record were, made by either player.