THESE well-known players contended in a couple of exhibition matches on Tuesday evening last, at the Queen's Arms Hotel, Knightsbridge. Play was announced to commence at eight o'clock, but, notwithstanding that the room was well filled at that hour, and the visitors anxious to witness something above amateur form, there was no effort made to prepare the table until close upon nine o'clock, some of the usual frequenters of the room being allowed to occupy the table until that time.
A game of 500 up at billiards was first played, Stanley giving 100 points. Richards led off with a miss in baulk, Stanley following suit, when the former was first to score with 9, Stanley replying with 5, and then each player made half a dozen. Richards now manipulated the first double-figure break, viz. 21. After two or three insignificant scores, Stanley ran up a dozen, and his opponent 13, leaving the younger player in position for the spot stroke, but after making five of his favourites in a break of 22, he broke down, and Richards, settling down to his work, scored 87, a break in which 22 spot strokes were conspicuous. To this Stanley responded with 128 (32 spots), and with smaller contributions brought his total to 201 against 276 on the part of Richards. Each now proceeded with caution, and for a dozen strokes nothing worthy of record took place until Richards added 26 and Stanley 27 (4 spots); the game soon after being called— Richards 360, Stanley 311. Slow scoring was again the order, Richards being, tile busiest,: as he got in with 21 4 spots) and 65 (18 spots), whilst the younger player scarcely added a dozen to his total, the marker announcing— Richards 456, Stanley 325. Richards was again the first to improve his position, as he ran up a very prettily-played all-round break of 32, and reached 489 to 330.
Stanley then altered the aspect of the game with a finely-played break of 93 (21 spots), but breaking down on attempting a cannon, Richards ran out a winner by 77 points.
The best of eleven games at pyramids followed, Richards again taking the honours by winning six games to threes The following are the scores:—Richards won the second game by 8 to 5, fourth by 8 to 1, fifth by 8 to 5 (including a seven break), sixth by 8 to 2, eighth by eight to 6 and ninth by 8 to 7 (including a six break). Stanley won the first game by 8 to 2, third by 8 to l, and seventh by 8 to 2.
Tom Edwards marked the games correctly throughout.