ON Thursday evening, March 2, Messrs. John Roberts (champion) and W. Cook (ex-champion) gave an exhibition of billiards and pyramids, at the establishment of Mr. W. G. Hanning, who has opened a commodious and well-lighted room opposite Sir Wm. Armstrong and Co.'s blast furnaces, at Elswick. At considerable expense, Mr. Hanning transformed some dwelling-houses into the well-adapted saloon which the two champions played in last night, and which is fitted with two handsome tables, and furnished with all the necessary adjuncts to the popular game.
Notwithstanding the somewhat high figure of admission (10s. 6d.), the whole of the best-priced seats were occupied, and there was a considerable gathering in the second-priced ones. Play was commenced at 12 minutes past 7 o'clock by Cook, who started the game by giving the usual miss in baulk, and was followed by Roberts, who also gave a miss. Cook ran up 11, and broke down at a very easy shot. Roberts, after some short breaks, got into position, and ran up from 14 to 25 against Cook's 16. Roberts getting in again, ran his score up to 39 against his opponent's 19, the balls having broken badly for the latter. Roberts then ran up 19, making his total 58 against Cook's 29. Cook next scored a break of 64, which included 16 spot-strokes. Score: Cook 93, Roberts 58. By some all-round play Roberts reached 70. Cook now got hold of the balls, and by some splendid all-round play, in which there were two or three "spots," ran up 144 in succession, making his total 237 against Roberts's 70. The last-named went on, and after making a couple missed a comparatively easy cannon, thus giving Cook an opportunity to make another break of 97, raising his total to 334 against Roberts's 72. The champion followed with a well-played break of 52, making his total 124. Roberts in this break got the balls close together against the top cushion, and nursed them beautifully. The ex-champion at his next essay managed to score 57 by all-round play. Score: Cook 391, Roberts 124. Roberts had a piece of bad luck when the white ball ran into a pocket, and compelled him to make a double baulk after having added 14 to his total. Cook gained a well-deserved round of applause when he made a splendid cannon from out of baulk upon the two balls in baulk, but failed, as also did Roberts, to do anything material in their next two essays. Roberts increased his score to 196 after a consecutive 45, in which there were no "spot" strokes, Cook's total now being 441. Some small breaks ensued, in which the balls broke badly for the champion. Score: Cook 475, Roberts 239. Cook, playing in excellent form, augmented his already strong lead by a break of 83, in which there were 16 consecutive "spot" shots.
Roberts's ill-luck again followed him when he succeeded the ex-champion, for when he had excellent position his ball just "trembled" over the pocket, and Cook was thereby let in for a small score, which made the board stand- Cook 565, Roberts 250. Roberts failed to make much of his next opportunity, and Cook likewise did not show in his best form. Roberts's next best performances were 30, 9, and 45 in succession, while Cook ran up 17, 39, 23, finishing off with a miss in baulk: totals, Cook 644, Roberts 344. Cook followed with 64, including 19 "spots," and Roberts followed with a fine break of 118 which, included 33 consecutive "spot" strokes, thus raising his total to 464 against Cook's 709. After the ex-champion had added 3 to his total, Roberts went in for another good display, in which he showed admirable "position" play, his break being 62. Cook afterwards made 20 in succession, missing a remarkably easy cannon. Score: Cook 730, Roberts 536. Roberts followed with a nicely-played 39. As Cook failed to do anything when he resumed play, it was left for Roberts to make the break of the evening-viz., 168, which embraced 44 "spot" strokes. The champion's play in this break was really admirable, and twice or thrice he brought down the house by his accuracy and "position" play. The scores now stood-Roberts 743, Cook 734. Cook having missed an easy hazard off the white, the champion had little difficulty in running out the 750 points necessary to complete the game, when Cook stood at 734. The duration of the game was two hours and a half. Immediately after the billiard entertainment, the pair played the best of 11 games at pyramids. Cook won six games against Roberts's three.
On March 4 Cook and Roberts again met at Mr. Hanning's, the West-End Billiard Saloon, Scotswood-road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and played 750 up at billiards and the best of seven games at pyramids. Cook won the billiards by 210 points, scoring 139 as his best break against Roberts's 145, both made principally by "spots," and he also won the pyramids at four games to three.
THESE two well-known players contested a match for the above stake on Monday evening last, at the Farnham Castle, Little Trinity-lane, City, Bennett giving his opponent 50 points in a game of 1000 up. Messrs. Burroughes and Watts fitted up an elegant oak table for the occasion. The balls were not broken until twelve minutes past eight, and Bennett by all-round play put together 39 (eleven spots), which he superseded in his next essay, as he succeeded in scoring 44, which, although he was conceding 50 points, thus early brought his score thirty to the good, the game being Bennett 85, Collins 55. The last-named now had successive runs of 27, 20, and 20 taken in his favour, and Bennett followed with 34, and, after a run of 25 to the same player, the game was called "173 all," and later on they were 213 and 216 all, a 25 break to Bennett being the only feature of consequence. Bennett gradually crept away from his adversary after this by the assistance of 29, 20, 24, and 33, during which time Collins's best and only contribution of note was 34, the totals standing at-Bennett 389, Collins 312. The last-named then added a somewhat lucky break of 33 to his credit, but Bennett continued to score much the faster of the two, and he was quickly a hundred points to the good. Prior to the interval the best breaks on either side were-Bennett 24, 23, 19, 33, and 27; Collins 26, 38 (six spots), and 28, and when a stoppage of play for a quarter of an hour was announced the scores stood-Bennett 591, Collins 526.
On recommencing Bennett was the first to score, beginning with a break of 36 all round the table, but Collins eclipsed this performance immediately afterwards by making the best break of the evening up to this juncture-viz., 84, which was put together chiefly at the spot, of which stroke he made eighteen in succession. Game-Bennett 661, Collins 632. Good though Collins's last contribution was, his opponent by all-round play almost equalled it with 72, but in response the receiver of points compiled 75 (twenty-three spots), which brought him nearer Bennett than he had been since the early part of the game, their scores standing at-Bennett 733, Collins 707. Things new looked decidedly more favourable for the last-named, but Bennett with a well-executed 111 (twenty-nine spots) soon got away again, and quickly following this with 102 (thirty-one spots), he eventually ran out the winner by 215 points. The stakes were paid over to the winner by the representative of the Sportsman on the termination of the game.
We understand that another match between the two men has been arranged for a like amount. The players, we believe, drew up articles yesterday at the office of the Sportsman.
ON February 15 last these men were to have met at Mr. Phillips's, the Vivian Hotel, Peckham Rye, to play 1,000 points up, for £25 a-side, but the match was postponed in consequence of the proprietor having been disappointed in his table not being re-covered and done up as had been intended. On Saturday night last, therefore, the table-one of Messrs. Burroughes and Watts's - having been put in good playing order by Messrs. Peters, Dufton and W. Taylor again appeared, and at eight o'clock play commenced in the presence of a select company, though as the evening progressed the room gradually filled, and a fair number of persons witnessed Dufton's brilliant finish. Taylor was the first to get away, but Dufton soon caught and passed him, though on both sides the breaks were small and the scoring low, until he was 117 to 75. Taylor now put on 34, and Dufton followed with 42, but at 167 both were level. Once again the game flagged, until Taylor with breaks of 21, 31, and 26, Dufton meanwhile scoring 37 as his largest contribution, reached 309 to 313, when the "old man" got in, and ran up 95 (ten spots) before relinquishing his cue, some splendid "long jennies" - a stroke at which Dufton is unapproached-being included in the break. Following this up with 48, 64, and 30, Dufton ran on to 582, whilst Taylor, whose principal break meanwhile had been 47, was only 357. The usual interval shortly afterwards took place, the total score being then called by Tom Stuart as-Dufton 616, Taylor 377.
The subsequent play was much faster, Taylor putting on 25, 27, 36, and 42, whilst Dufton with 43, 20, and 36, attained to 723 to 520. It was now just eleven o'clock, but in another forty minutes Dufton had won by 238 points, after three hours and a half's play, the total score being-Dufton 1,000, Taylor 762, and the former running out with an unfinished break of 14. The play of both men was very good, though neither did much at the spot, but Dufton proved that his hand had not lost its old cunning at his "long jennies," which were certainly as brilliant as ever. Tom Stuart marked carefully throughout, and the general arrangements made by Mr. Phillips for the accommodation his visitors left nothing to be desired.