THE ex-champion paid a visit to the East End on Tuesday night to play an exhibition match with T. J. Hughes, at the Coach and Horses, Mile-end-road. The fine billiard-room connected with the house has been fitted up by Messrs. Burroughes and Watts with every requisite for the comfort of visitors and players, and was filled on the occasion under notice by a company who took the liveliest interest in the game. Play commenced shortly before eight o'clock, and Cook, who was conceding 450 points in 1,000, was first to get into double figures by running up 37, a break he soon afterwards supplemented with 64 (6 spots). Hughes's first contribution worth mentioning amounted to 14, the ex-champion replying with an all-round 43. Hughes now made some very good cannons in a break of 32, and before Cook increased his total added 18. The last-named player, with contributions of 35, 19, 46 (7 spots), 53, and 31, now rapidly reduced the points of his opponent, who failed to make any large break. When the game was announced-Cook 427, Hughes 626, the former ran up 76, the balls at a distance appearing to touch when the break reached that number. An interval was now announced, and on resuming play the marker decided the last stroke to have been a cannon, and Cook increased his break to 95 (4 spots). Hughes still only augmented his total by small additions, but Cook, with 37 (10 spots), reached 621 to 684. The spot, which had hitherto been too close to the top cushion, was now placed in the ordinary position, and the alteration was soon made manifest, as Cook got well "set" at the top of the table and made 22 consecutive spot strokes, thus obtaining the lead. Forty-six (14 spots) from Cook, and minor contributions from the receiver of points, caused the marker to call the game-Cook 770, Hughes 709. From this point the latter was not left another chance, as Cook, on again taking up his cue, did not relinquish it until the game was finished, the ex-champion going out a winner by 291 points, when his break amounted to 230 (64 spots). The company expressing a desire that Cook would finish the break, he added 21 more spot strokes, the total break reaching 293. Time, including the interval, 2 hours 34 minutes.
The table was by Burroughes and Watts, and W. Lester marked the game accurately.
A COUPLE of matches were played on Friday, 24th ult., at the Billiard Saloon, Oak Hotel, Surbiton, before a numerous company, between R. D. Brooks, of London, and J. A. Smith, a local professional-viz., 500 up at billiards, and the best of seven games at pyramids. The billiards was played first, and after the usual misses Smith went off with a break of 21, and following it up with several others of between 20 and 30, the game was soon called -Smith 153, Brooks 60. Smith kept his advantage throughout, and although Brooks gamely persevered, Smith ultimately went out the winner by 83 points, in 1 hour 25 min. Smith's best breaks were 21, 33 (6 spots), 25, 46 (10 spots), 38 (9 spots), 35, and 26; while Brooks's principal breaks were 30 (7 spots), 28, 26 (3 spots), 25, 22, and 21. After the usual interval they played the pyramids, when Brooks won the first game by 9 to 5, second by 9 to 6, the third by 8 to 7, and the sixth by 8 to 7, while Smith won the fourth game by 9 to 3, and the fifth by 9 to 4.
THE billiard-room at the Rose and Crown, Tottenham-court-road, was well filled to witness the above-named men play 1,000 up even, on Thursday evening last, and although no very large breaks were made, the play throughout was interesting, the scoring being of a very even character all through the game, and had Freeman not been suffering from illness, he might probably have made a closer fight of it; as it was, he only suffered defeat by 78 points, after leading for the first half of the game.
The following were the best breaks on either side:
Hepper-21, 23, 22, 14, 11, 10, 12, 30 (6 spots), 14, 11, 24, 12, 21, 11, 31, 16, 16, 11,17, 24, 15, 19, 54 (17 spots).
Freeman-13, 13, 18 (6 spots), 11, 11, 20, 15, 36 (12 spots), 35 (10 spots), 11 (3 spots), 21, 12 (3 spots), 14, 11, 30 (6 spots), 12 (3 spots), 16, 18 (5 spots), 25, 22, 24, 11, 10, 17, 18, 25, 18 (3 spots), 26 (2 spots).