THIS handicap was continued on Friday and Saturday last, and concluded on Tuesday night, Shorter and Dufton, who were left in the final to play the best of three games of 500 up, only getting through a game each on the Saturday. From the following return it will be seen that Dufton eventually won first prize, and the veteran well deserved his hard-earned victory, and it is no small feather in his cap to have beaten such a formidable opponent as Shorter, even taking into account the points the latter was receiving. The arrangements in the room were not what might be desired, as several of the audience were allowed to stand round the table, frequently in the way; of the players, when there was plenty of sitting-room. As to the marking the less said the better, but we cannot help remarking that the person who officiated during the greater part of the play was deficient in accuracy, and nearly always announced the score just when one of the players was in the act of striking, a most objectionable practice, and one that would put many men off their stroke.
DUFTON BEAT MANNOCK.- At the opening the play was rather slow, but at length Dufton woke up with a very useful 56, which he supplemented after 18 from his opponent by 19, and eventually took the lead at 327 to 304, and then a long interval elapsed ere anything worthy of notice was done. When the game was called, Dufton 350, Mannock 369, the veteran ran up 38, but his opponent replied with 42 and 18, which made them nearly level again at 409 to 401. Dufton, however, now gradually drew away, and by the aid of 15 and 37 won easily by 65 points.
F. SHORTER BEAT BRERETON.-This was well contested for the first 300 points, when Shorter drew away, and won by 111 points. Best breaks-Shorter 22 (four spots), 45 (eleven spots), 67 (fourteen spots), 34, and 28; Brereton, 38 (two spots), 28, and 23.
W. DUFTON BEAT F. SHORTER.-Play commenced at 7.13, and for some time little change took place in their respective positions, breaks of 20 and 21 from Shorter, and 23 from Dufton, being the best essays of either until the game was called-Shorter 106, Dufton 222, when the former added 24 (seven spots), and 35 (seven spots), and Dufton put in 14 (three spots). Little or nothing occurred for some time after this, but at 217 to 315 Shorter made a very careful 53 all-round, and after 34 (three spots) from his opponent, supplemented this by 21 and 34, thus reaching 346 to 369. Dufton, however, gradually drew away again, and got as far as 453 to Shorter's 407, when the latter made 46 (twelve spots), and shortly afterwards the game was called 474 all. Both then missed some very easy shots, but Dufton managed to stay the longer, and won by 14 points at 9.5.
SHORTER BEAT DUFTON.-Play was resumed at 9.20, when by the aid of 36 and 34 Shorter began to rapidly overhaul his opponent, who, however, then got in with 29. This was negatived almost immediately by 10, 22, and 39 from Shorter, who reached 252 to Dufton's 273. Small scores followed, Shorter first getting in with double figures with 15 and 27, but Dufton, pulling him self together, ran up 44, and later on getting in with 15 and 14, he soon held a good lead. The full game being called-Dufton 448, Shorter 396, the latter ran up to 440 by the aid of thirteen spots, and adding to this 22, the game reached-Dufton 459, Shorter 462, and the former failing to add anything, Shorter went out a winner by 41 points at seven minutes past eleven.
On Tuesday the room was crowded to inconvenience to witness the final heat. The players were W. Dufton, received 150, and F. Shorter, received 20, and the game 500 up, this being the deciding heat, postponed from Saturday evening last. Play commenced at 7.20, but it was some considerable time before either man made any noteworthy score, the best contributions being-Dufton 14, Shorter 24, until the game was called-76 to 235, when Shorter made a splendid all-round break of 76, thus just doubling his score. Dufton replied with 15, and then the play became extremely monotonous, 16 from Dufton and 12 from his opponent being the highest run, until the game was called - Shorter 256, Dufton 369, when the former ran up 28, after which either player indulged in safety misses. Eventually, at 321 to 409, Shorter gave his backers a little encouragement by manipulating 37 and 28 (six spots), but when Dufton next went in he scored 43 by some very careful all-round play, at the conclusion of which the game was called- Shorter 398, Dufton 488. Shorter only added 4, and then "the veteran" obtained the required dozen, and won at thirteen minutes past ten by 98 points.