THE following gentlemen who have entered for the challenge cue have drawn as follows:-Messrs. Barclay and Lucas, Messrs. Horne and Oakley, Messrs. Ady and Roche. The first of these matches was played at Russell's Rooms on Wednesday evening last, and resulted in an easy victory to Mr. Horne, who won by 100 points, the heats being games of 500 up.
ON Tuesday evening last a match took place at the Glo'ster Hotel, Oxford-street, between J. Roberts, jun., and T. Taylor, the latter receiving 250 points in a game of 1,000 up. The play was naturally watched with considerable interest, the champion's play in particular, in anticipation of his forthcoming match with Timbrell at St. James's Hall on Monday next.
Play commenced at eight o'clock, and Taylor was the first to accumulate anything of note with a 27 run, in which were several very fine all-round cannons. Runs of 29, 25, 23, and 27 to Roberts, and 25 and 36 to Taylor, brought the game to-Taylor 368, Roberts 146. The first-named then put together 53, and before Roberts placed anything of note to his credit Taylor put in another nicely-played contribution of 43, which brought him to 553 against 281. Successive breaks of 20, 25, 25, and 62 (seven spots) to Roberts now brought him to a more favourable position as regards their respective scores, but Taylor then showed some disposition to play the "spot" stroke, and assisted by twenty of these hazards he arrived at 704 to 424, when the usual interval was commenced. The play up to this period had not been productive of any large breaks, chiefly owing to the fact that neither player went out for the spot game, which usually proves so efficacious as regards large contributions. Both, however, were now on their "metal," and to begin with Roberts credited himself with 56 (seventeen spots), which he shortly afterwards followed with 38 all round the table, and the scores were then called as-Taylor 705, Roberts 539. Up to this time after the interval-the first-named had not got fairly set in anything of a run, but he now placed 46 (fourteen spots) in his favour on the scoring board, and subsequent to 38 from the same player, Roberts, assisted by ten red winners, put together 98, which he immediately succeeded with 27, and this brought the game to-Taylor 888, Roberts 705. The last-named now scored far faster than his adversary, and with 33 (eight spots), 78, and 50, he greatly altered the state of affairs, as he arrived at 904 to 961, and those who had taken the odds about his winning earlier on in the game began to feel jubilant. The balls were now left very difficult, but Roberts made a very fine losing hazard off the white along the cushion, and from this he succeeded in compiling 43. This, however, proved his last addition of note, and subsequent to several unproductive innings on both sides Taylor ran out a winner by 40 points. The game was marked - by W. R. Reading.
LAST Friday evening the above well-known players met at the Union Cross Hotel, Halifax, to play an exhibition game of 1,000 up, Kilkenny being in receipt of 100 points start. A large company was present, the Halifax people being anxious to see the Londoner's play. The game commenced at half-past seven and concluded at twenty minutes to ten, including an interval of half an hour. Taylor went out with a splendid break of 203 (including sixty-six spots), the game resulting in his favour by nearly 300 points. The chief breaks made were as follow:-Taylor, 203 (including sixty-six spot-strokes), 139 (forty-one spots), 101 (thirty-three spots), and 67 (all round); Kilkenny, two 66's (by all-round play), likewise three breaks of over 50.
ON Friday evening last W. Moss, the well-known professional, and W. Henry, an amateur, both of Manchester, played a game of 500 up for £10 a-side, Moss conceding 200 points, at the Spread Eagle Inn, Stretford-road, Manchester. On the previous Monday they opposed each other at the same place, on similar conditions, for a like amount of money, on which occasion Henry won by a majority of 17, and they determined to have another trial. The betting, which was dull, ruled at 5 to 4 on Moss at start, and rapidly reducing his concession, he scored 238 to Henry's 240. He now became a warm favourite, and with breaks of 45, 37, 33, and 29, got well in front, Henry's best contribution meanwhile being one of 27. The result was never afterwards in doubt, as Moss, without any difficulty, retained the lead, and eventually won by 51 points. A. Proud correctly called the game.
THE return match between these players was decided on Tuesday last at the saloon attached to the South London Palace, Wilson conceding 250 points in 1,000, for £10. Upon the last occasion Ottaway received 200 points, and suffered an easy defeat, but was not satisfied with losing, and Wilson offered an extra fifty, hence the present match, a return of which we append. Play commenced shortly before eight o'clock, and Wilson scoring very rapidly, soon began, by the aid of a good run of 63, to gain upon his opponent, reaching 162 to 281. Ottaway then made 23, to which Wilson replied with 24 (seven spots). Play progressed rather slowly at this point, 16 from Wilson and 17 from his opponent being the best essays until the game was called-Wilson 218, Ottaway 232, when the former in his three next attempts ran up 30 (five spots), 26 (four spots), and 27, while Ottaway only increased his score by 12 points. The full game being now-Wilson 301, Ottaway 344, the former drew still closer with 28, and supplementing this after a brace from his opponent, took the lead at 351 to 349. Once more Ottaway got in front, but with a good opening did not observe that he scored a cannon when he was at 364 to 355. Wilson, however, did not attempt to score, and Ottaway made a couple, but a baker's dozen from Wilson again took him to the fore. A rather lucky cannon gave Ottaway a chance, of which he took advantage to the extent of 40, failing at his second spot. With the assistance of five and four spots Wilson then made 42, and reached 411 to Ottaway's 406. Once more the latter got in front with 17, this advantage being only momentary, however, as Wilson, putting in 49 and 20, ran away to 492 against 433. After some very slow play on either side Ottaway manipulated a very careful 39, and as, after 7 from Wilson, he again got in with 24, he reached 502 to 501, when the interval took place. After the recess Wilson had it all his own way, and by the aid of 22, 25, 29, 153 (thirty-six spots), 30, and 25, won by 305 points, Ottaway's best contributions being 24, 15, 13, and 24 (seven spots). L. Gardiner marked the game.