VALUE OF COMPETITIVE PLAY
AMONG the many questions which axe discussed in the BILLIARD PLAYER from time to time, I do not find any mention of the relative merits of breaks made in friendly play versus those scored during a handicap or cup or league match. I rather wished for some guidance on this point when examining my entries, because I have a break of 159 made in the third round of the Glasgow Jewish Institute Annual Handicap by Mr. S. Golomb, entered against a 271 by Mr. A. Kent at the Central Club, Abertillery, scored in a friendly game.
My decision is for the break made "in the pit." I quite realize there is a difference of over a hundred points in the size of the break, but, allowing for all the circumstances, my feeling is that a break of 159 in competitive amateur billiards is rarer and demands more from the player than a 271 in a friendly game. Not that I wish to depreciate Mr. Kent's, effort, which was very fine indeed.
We rather expect good breaks from Bristol, where my good friend Mr. Warren is so keen on organizing play. Mr. T. Topping records one of 205, made in Sloan's Billiard Rooms, and also a snooker break of 56, consisting of 7 blacks and 7 reds.
The foregoing proves Mr. Topping to be a really good all-round cueman, and I sincerely hope one of his future efforts will win him a prize.
Capable Young Player
Mr. A. Somerville, of Ripley Ex- Service Men's Club, should go far if he improves at a reasonable rate as he gets older. He is only 17 years of age and already has a break of 185 to his credit. I do not know his style of play; but strongly recommend him to study all phases of the game in the ample time he has before him.
This break was witnessed by Mr. J. Williams, President of the Club, and Mr. A. P. Richards. The stroke shown in Diagram 1 is the one he broke down at. Apparently, he played rather slowly against the nap of the cloth, and the cue-ball drifted off enough to miss the second object ball by the narrowest margin.
Boldness Pays
I think he would have done better to play more boldly, bringing the red in and out of baulk and sending the cue-ball forward smartly, making the cannon in a decisive fashion and cut out the possibility of the course of the cue-ball being affected through running against the nap of the woollen cloth.
Diagram 2 comes from Mr. F. S. Pilcher, of Burton-on-Trent. The stroke cropped up during a break of 148, made during an exhibition match with Mr. W. E. Astill, of Leicester, at the re-opening of the new billiard room at Burton-on-Trent Workingmen's Club and Institute.
It is one of those neat little shots worth knowing. Play full on the red, with plenty of right hand side, and it should come off every time.
I now come to a very good 103 break, scored in a team game by Mr. J. J. Wilton, of Cwmcarn, Mon. He began with the fine pot in Diagram 3, following through to leave the loser off the spotted red and build up the break. As this reader points out, the pot white, safety shot, sequence was easier, but he saw possibilities in the leave, tried for and scored the pot, and then went on
I like to hear of breaks like this because they represent the reward of enterprise and pluck.
Reasonable Alternative
Markers do not commonly encourage amateurs to practice masse shots. Dents in the cloth are hard to get out and will sometimes seriously affect the run of the balls in the vicinity where the enthusiast has been banging away with a vertical cue for an hour or so.
Perhaps that is why we do not often see shots like the one shown by Mr. E. J. Pimblett during an 88 break at Hyde Road Tram Depot, Manchester.
I am not so sure that the pot red, played up and down the table is not a preferable stroke, because the object white is lying in very nice position against the top cushion, and we might gather a few points by means of top-of-the-table play if we left that ball alone and concentrated on potting the red.
I cannot quite approve of the in-off in Diagram 5, although "nothing succeeds like success," and Mr. W. Dawson certainly made it to perfection at Temperance Billiard Club, Crook, Co. Durham.
Most players would try for the cannon from the other side of the "D" with running side and quite a number would joyfully have a smack at screwing in-off into the left hand baulk pocket. Either of these shots are more certain than the one our reader scored, but his suggestion is interesting because it undoubtedly leaves the red ball very well placed.