A MATCH between the above well-known players took place at Messrs. Turner and Price's rooms in the Strand, on Wednesday evening last, when Hart received 200 points in a game of 1,000 up, the Sportsman being stakeholder and referee.
Play commenced at ten minutes past eight, and subsequent to two safety misses from both, Hart made 15, which break was responded to by Bennett with 33 obtained all round the table, and after 27 from the receiver of points the game stood-Hart 225, Bennett 45. 20 and 12 were then registered in favour of Hart, and Bennett, assisted in the early part of the break by the red doubling across into the middle pocket, compiled 84, this number being chiefly obtained off the "spot," which stroke he successfully played twenty consecutive times. Hart now manipulated the balls well for 43, and following this with 21 before Bennett augmented his total to any great extent, the game stood at-Hart 369, Bennett 171. The latter now considerably altered the complexion of affairs, for after putting together 23 his opponent failed to score, but left his ball in baulk and close under the cushion. The red, however, was adjacent to the top pocket, and although a great stroke to go out for to put it down, Bennett accomplished it successfully, at the same time gaining position for winning-hazard play. Of this opportunity he made the very best use, for after holing the coloured ball thirty consecutive times he had to resort to all-round play, and broke down after amassing in all 104. Hart, in answer to this, was only able to run up to 26 before Bennett got up to the top of the table again. His play was then of a character which did him much credit. At first he made fourteen red hazards, and then, losing position, he manipulated the balls until he put the red into the centre pocket and crept up again, when subsequent to disposing of the red fifteen more times, he got too thin on the red, and had to play the losing hazard. Position was then regained, and twelve more "spots" were accredited him, which made the number of his winning hazards in all forty-one, and the break amounted to 154. On completing this addition Bennett was greatly cheered, and the scores stood at Bennett 442, Hart 404. Having now passed his opponent, the scratch man was very greatly fancied, and by the aid of eighteen more spot hazards he was enabled to place 59 to his credit, during which time Hart's best runs were 17, 17, and 16, and shortly after this Bennett was 576 to his adversary's 486. Only 20 more to Hart and 45 (fourteen spots) to Bennett before the interval commenced, when the game was- Bennett 628, Hart 567. After a cessation of play for twenty minutes, Bennett led off with 38, and then Hart made a series of nursery cannons in good style at the top end of the table, and his break amounted to 52, which brought his total to 649 to 679. Things now looked brighter for the supporters of Hart than they had done just previously, but Bennett lost no time in augmenting his score with 45 (ten spots), which brought him 75 points ahead. Runs of 20, 18, and 22 were now taken in Hart's favour, during which time his opponent placed 16 and 41 (twelve spots) to his credit, and the state of affairs now stood-Bennett 792, Hart 730. By the aid of sixteen spot hazards the first-named accumulated 58, and almost immediately afterwards Hart nursed the balls for a well-deserved 57, but this proved his last run of consequence, and Bennett ultimately won by 163 points, going out with 73 (twenty-three spots). The game was marked by Oxford Jonathan, who took the scores throughout with great precision. At the conclusion of the contest the stakes were handed over to the winner.
AN exhibition match between the above two players took place on Monday last at the Swiss Hotel, Thames Ditton, Taylor conceding his opponent a start of 100. The match took place on the new championship table recently erected by Messrs. Burroughes and Watts, whereon Taylor trained for his late match with A. Bennett. The play, in consequence, was extremely slow throughout, no breaks of any importance being made, and only two spot-strokes in succession occurred once during the evening. Taylor commenced, and Shorter added 14. Taylor then put together 12, and the gamer was soon called-Shorter 130, Taylor 31. The former then added 28, 13, and 12, and reached 291 to Taylor's 62. Contributions of 13, 32, and 36 brought Shorter to 308, Taylor in the meantime making 24, 22, and 16, and reaching 167. Shorter now drew farther ahead, and with another well-executed break of 36, supplemented by 23 and 11, reached 397 to Taylor's 222. The latter now made breaks of 17, 14, 15, 27, and 37, and reached 354, Shorter during the time putting together 12 and 10, and with other small contributions reached 466. Three misses on each side were now given, when Taylor made a long cannon, which resulted in a break of 19, and the game was called-Shorter 480 to Taylor's 404. The latter now pulled up materially, and looked like winning the game, as Shorter scored but slowly, Taylor adding 22, followed by 32. Shorter at 486 failed to score on three consecutive occasions, but he reached 494 to Taylor's 483. The former added the required six, and won the game by seventeen points.
THESE players met last Wednesday, at the Eagle Inn, Stretford-road, Manchester, to play a match of 500 up for £10 a-side, Moss conceding 200. Odds of 5 to 4 were laid on Moss at starting, but Henry playing well in the first 100, reached 300 to Moss's 87. Odds were now laid on Henry, but Moss coming with a break of 33, the game was called-Moss 157, Henry 336. The latter now got in again, but breaking down, Moss put on a good all-round break of 45, bringing his score to 202 against Henry's 338. The latter breaking down at 356, Moss again got in with 30, followed by 19 and 17, reaching 270 to Henry's 366. The latter now put on 19, Moss replying with 31, the game being called-Moss 301, Henry 384. Odds of 5 to 4 were now taken about Moss. After an interval of ten minutes play was resumed, when Henry added 27 to his total against Moss's 16. The first-mentioned playing very indifferently, Moss made 43, the game being called-Moss 444, Henry 452; but the latter, pulling himself together, won by 17 points. The game was carefully marked by A. Proud.