THE first match in the above handicap commenced on Monday last at twenty-five minutes past six o'clock, the two players being Hunt and Richards, both receiving 220 points. The room during this game was far far from crowded, owing possibly to the fact that both competitors are famed rather as pyramid than billiard players. The result, however, proved that Hunt bids fair to rank high among the rising billiard players of the day. Richards was the first to score making the cannon off his opponent's miss for safety under the side cushion, but failed to score more than the two. Hunt, after one miss each, then scored a break of 27, and followed that with another of 29; and by means of a series of small breaks succeeded in reaching 346 to Richards's 236, the latter having failed to score no less than eight times in succession. The game proceeded after this very slowly, Richards being evidently quite out of form. On reaching 301 to Hunt's 398, he succeeded in making what proved to be the break of the game—viz., one of 36.
Hunt, however, replied with one of 33, and soon after another of 3-1 brought him to 491 to Richards's 381, Hunt ultimately winning the game by 104 points, the time occupied in scoring the game (280 up) being 50 minutes.
The next game was between S. W. Stanley, 110, and G. Collins, 220. Stanley was the favourite at starting, 5 to 4 being offered, and 6 to 4 being taken pretty freely.
In the early part of the game Stanley had it all his own way, as two breaks of 51 following each other soon brought up his score to 218 to Collins's 244, and a further break of 20 brought Stanley within 12 points of his opponent, Stanley being 242 and Collins 254. Here the latter, who played with excellent nerve and judgment, made 36, which again gave him a considerable lead.
Another break of 36 soon after brought Collins to 343 to- Stanley's 300. On the latter reaching 354 to Collins's 379, Collins played a fine break of 52. Stanley, after another good break of 44, including a series of very brilliant strokes made under great difficulties, as the-, balls broke very badly for him, reached 406 to Collins' 435; but the latter by means of a 37 break ultimately won a well-played game on both sides by 50 points, the time occupied being exactly one hour.
The attendance on Tuesday evening was again poor when compared with that of former years, but the probable cause was that the principal features of interest of the handicap were centred in the next evening's play,, when Cook, Kilkenny, Alfred, and Fred Bennett met.
The play hitherto having been confined to those who were so well known to Londoners, that in the earlier days of the handicap they failed to excite that interest which would be created by players who, though by no means superior to those who had played, possessed the charm of novelty wherewith to attract the lovers of the game. The first match was between Evans and Shorter, both receiving 220 points, and is by far the best game as yet played in the handicap. Evans, especially in the early part of the game, played remarkably well—his perfect knowledge of the game being somewhat inconsistent with his execution, as for some time past he may be said to have retired from billiards as a profession. Three good breaks (with a few intermediate ones) of 18, 45, and 61 brought him to 370 to Shorter's 308, when the latter, who is regarded by many as a likely winner of the handicap, played a good break of 53, thus getting within nine of his opponent. Evans replied with a small break of 11, when Shorter made 32, and passed him. At this somewhat critical period of the game Shorter had decidedly the best of the luck. Starting two breaks with flukes, he shut out Evans from scoring, and in addition made a good break from a five stroke, in which his ball
hung in the jaws of the pocket for a few seconds and fell in, when, had it remained out, it would have in all probability left no score. From this point of the game Evans failed to score any breaks worthy of record, the balls certainly breaking most unkindly for him. By means of a few small breaks and two fair ones of 29 and 39, Shorter eventually won the game by 86 points, the time occupied being 54 minutes.
The next game was between Taylor and Stammers, the former receiving 110 points and the latter 270, the limit.
It is perhaps somewhat to be regretted that the latter should have been chosen as one of the twelve players, as so many could be found who could at any rate play a game sufficiently good to excite interest. The only breaks made by Stammers that can be expressed in two figures were 10, 18, and 22. Taylor consequently, who conceded 160 points in a game of 390 up, and whose test breaks were 33, 21, and 68 (20 spot hazards), 36 and 49, won an easy victory by 148 points. The time occupied was 52 minutes.
As was generally expected, the attendance on the third day was far greater than on the two days previous. The fact that two such deservedly popular players as Louis Kilkenny, of Halifax, and Alfred Bennett, of Birmingham,' should both appear on the same day as W. Cook himself is quite sufficient to account for the increased interest taken in the handicap on Wednesday. The first game, too, between Kilkenny and Fred Bennett, was fraught with additional interest as tending to throw light on the disputed point as to which of the two brothers, Alfred or Fred Bennett, is the better player. Kilkenny and Alfred Bennett have played so often and so equally that there can.be but little to choose between the two; consequently the match between Kilkenny and the brother of his greatest friend and constant foe was regarded almost in the same light as if the match had been between the Brothers themselves. Both Kilkenny and F. Bennett were handicapped to receive the same number of points viz., 170. The former was the first to score, making & break of 39 off his opponent's first for safety under the side cushion. Bennett, however, immediately replied with a better break of 43, which proved ultimately to be the best break he made in the game. This gave Bennett the lead, which he maintained till he reached 236 to Kilkenny's 224, when the latter, who played in his usual careful style, scored a break of 38, a few smaller breaks enabling him soon after to reach 315 to Bennett's 249.
Here Bennett scored another break of 37, and soon afterwards reached 300 to Kilkenny's 345. The latter player, however, began to draw slowly but surely farther and farther ahead, when a break of 18 from Bennett, including five spot hazards, slightly decreased the distance.
Bennett, however, was not in particularly good form, twice in the game missing an easy losing hazard that would have left him a good break. On Kilkenny's getting to 388 he made a fine break [of 53, the best in the game, which brought his score up to 441 to Bennett's 348. After this no great breaks were made by either player, but Kilkenny ultimately won a somewhat slow game by 115 points. The time occupied in scoring the 330 points was one hour and six minutes.
The next game was between"W. Cook, scratch, and Alfred Bennett, 170, and was looked forward to with greater interest than any of the previous games, it being generally thought that Alfred Bennett had very much improved of late. Indeed, he is considered by many good judges to be the best in the handicap. In the early part of the game Cook played very badly; on the other hand, Alfred Bennett showed that the confidence of his northern friends who had accompanied him was not misplaced. By means of several good breaks, the principal ones being 23, 19, 30, and 35, Alfred Bennett succeeded in reaching 308 to Cook's 64, when the latter first began really to play. A fine break of 70, in which a splendid cannon occurred, in which Cook pushed his own ball through the white with the exact strength to meet the red after rebounding from the cushion, brought him to 134. The game after this proceeded very slowly, Cook breaking down several times. On reaching 220 to Bennett's 409, Cook began to play again, and three consecutive breaks of 36, 44, and 37 brought him to 327 to Bennett's 409, and the general impression seemed to be that, after all, Cook would win the game. Alfred Bennett, however, was not disconcerted. Getting the balls left favourably for him at last, he scored a break of 50, and, notwithstanding another fine break of 55 at the finish from Cook, Bennett won the game by 99 points, amid much well-deserved applause. The time occupied was one hour and 22 minutes.
Previous to this game, however, the second draw had taken place, which resulted in Collins and Hunt, Kilkenny and Taylor, and Alfred Bennett and Shorter drawing together, general satisfaction being felt that Kilkenny had not drawn with his friend Alfred Bennett.
The first game was between Hunt and Collins, both receiving 220 points. In recent exhibition matches the latter player has generally given points to his opponent.
The result of the game, however, proves, so far as one game may be considered a criterion of play, that the men were fairly handicapped in being put level. Collins led at starting, a break of 20 bringing him to 246 to Hunt's 232. On reaching 253 to Collins's 263, Hunt made a break of 21, thus obtaining the lead, which he maintained till the commencement of the fourth hundred. On reaching 295 Hunt played a capital break of 65, including 18 spot hazards, which brought him over 60 ahead of Collins. The latter player, however, soon after reached 338 to Hunt's 368, and by means of a few well-played breaks—26 and 27 being the best—passed Hunt, the call of the marker, "393 all," being loudly cheered, and reached 400 first, the game being called, Collins 400, Hunt 393. The latter player, however, did not remain behind long, a 15 and 34 and one or two little breaks enabling him to reach 457 to Collins's 405. Here Hunt foolishly struck out for an extremely improbable cannon, the balls being all of a row under the side cushion; he played to hit the white fine and cannon off the top cushion by putting on a lot of reverse side. On the other hand, he could have easily given a miss for safety.
Collins, however, failed to score more than 24, when, by means of a good break of 43, Hunt won the game off the balls, thus winning by 71 points, the time being 53 minutes.
The next game was between Kilkenny (170), of Halifax, and Tom Taylor, of London, and excited much interest.. The invariable pluck and still more invariable upright and straightforward conduct of both men have naturally resulted in each being followed by a band of devoted admirers, determined to have on at least a "trifle." Some money having been laid out at 5 to 4 on Taylor, the game commenced somewhat after the time announced, it being past eight o'clock when Taylor (110) gave the usual miss. On Kilkenny returning the same, Taylor made the cannon off the red, a stroke for which he is famed, and scored a break of 26, including four spot hazards. After a considerable number of misses from both players, Kilkenny, on reaching 185, made a break of 38, reaching 223 to Taylor's 143. The play for a considerable time was very slow, no breaks being made by either that were worthy of record, considering who the players were. On Taylor reaching 248 to Kilkenny's 283, he made a good break of 48, including seven spots, and passed Kilkenny for the first time in the game. He was, however, soon repassed by Kilkenny, who reached 328 to Taylor's 311, when the latter made 46 (five spots}, and reached 357. On Kilkenny, however, getting to 349 to Taylor's 363, the former made the break of the handicap hitherto—viz., one of 9.5. This break, including ten and seven consecutive spot hazards, brought Kilkenny to 444, and soon after a 30 break enabled him to win the game by 96 points, the time being 1 hour and 12 minutes. Neither man played in his real form, yet it's but fair to Taylor to state that he has been practising constantly of late on a championship table in anticipation of his match with Alfred Bennett for £200, and consequently is not in form for his favourite spot stroke breaks.
The final heat of the second round was between the above players, and was the first game decided on Friday, Bennett receiving 170 points and Shorter 220. In stringing for break Bennett won, and Shorter commenced with a miss, Bennett following suit. Shorter then failed to score, and the representative of the Midlands put on 24. Shorter replied to this with a well-played 45, in which 11 spot-strokes were conspicuous. The first named then increased his score with 25. Shorter added two to his total and gave a miss. Bennett was next to score with 14, and gave a miss, and his opponent failing to score, Bennett manipulated 45 by all-round play, the game being called 279 for Bennett and 275 for Shorter. After a miss on either side the Londoner quickly put together 60 (4 spots), and wound up with a miss in baulk. Each player then missed an easy loser, and Bennett at his next attempt fluked the red in the right-hand middle pocket, but only increased his total by 6 before Shorter got in with 16, and broke down at an easy cannon, when the marker announced, 351 Shorter, and 286 Bennett. Bennett's next break quite altered the aspect of the game, as when he reached 294 he got in position for the spot, and made 29 consecutive winners in a break of 95, thus tieing the hitherto largest break in the handicap made by Kilkenny, and carrying his score to 381. Shorter's next effort resulted in a break of 10, to which Alfred replied with 18, when he left the balls safe, and his opponent gave a miss. Small scores on the part of both "characterised the next few strokes, until the game was, Shorter 401, Bennett 404. The first-named now increased his total with 33 all-round, and Bennett only making a couple in his next effort, Shorter replied with 12, 16, and 10, in quick succession. The Birmingham player was next to move with 11, 25, and 18, the latter break containing seven consecutive cannons, taking him to 487 against 454. Seven from the Londoner made his total 461, when Bennett got in and finished the game with a five shot.
In the middle of the game the balls broke badly for Bennett, but towards the latter part they came into even worse positions for Shorter. The play on both sides was exceedingly good, and some of the strokes were loudly applauded. The game occupied 1 hour and 4 minutes.
After an interval of half an hour, Alfred Bennett and Louis Kilkenny, who were both handicapped at 170, came together. Bennett won the string, and the usual misses followed. Kilkenny then gave a second miss, and Bennett failing to score, the Yorkshire champion ran up 18, but broke down at a rather easy cannon. His opponent again failed to make his mark, and Kilkenny made 21 (two spots), which he supplemented with 14 immediately afterwards, and reached 212 to 172. Bennett in his next attempt made a ten shot, and giving a miss in baulk, left the balls safe. Bennett then got in with 35, bringing his total to 218 against 227. Small scores ensued, until Kilkenny put together 19 (three spots), his opponent answering with 31 and 23, which brought him to 299, Kilkenny's total being 284.
The Yorkshireman now made 18 and 44 by all-round play, which carried his score to 357, Bennett's total being 317. The last-named then made additions of 19 and 61 which once again brought him to the front, but from this point he did little to improve his position, the balls breaking badly for him. Kilkenny in the meantime manipulated breaks of 32, 30, 45 (the latter break including ten consecutive cannons), and ran out a winner, with an unfinished contribution of 12, by 110 points. The time of play was 1 hour 15 minutes.
Kilkenny has now to meet Hunt and play the"best of three games of 500 up for the first prize. The first game will be commenced this day (Saturday) at two o'clock. The table used during the week was supplied by Messrs. Burroughes and Watts, and gave great satisfaction to the players engaged.
During last evening, and previous to Kilkenny meeting Bennett in the handicap, a match was made for them to play 1,000 up on Monday evening on the same table, commencing at seven o'clock, for £50 a-side.
Fred Bennett and Hunt also made a match for £100 a-side, to play 1,000 up, Bennett conceding 200 points. The match is to take place within a month, but the actual day is not yet fixed.
We were informed last night that J. Roberts, jun., has staked £50 in the hands of the proprietors of the Sportsman to bind the match in which he is to concede W. Timbrell 300 points in 1,000, for £300 a-side.