George Gray in a New Role

How He Neutralised Inman's Safety

During his money match against Melbourne Inman at the National Sporting Club, George Gray showed that he is quite capable of bringing off the big strokes needed to combat the safety tactics adopted by such a master of this phase of the game as the Twickenham professional. Of course, Gray's well-known red ball game was the scoring force which accounted for Inman's decisive defeat, but with the "Terrier" straining every nerve in the opening stages of the match to prevent the young Australian from getting to work with his favourite stroke, the way in which Gray compelled the balls to yield him points and position when awkwardly placed was interesting and instructive, especially to those who are apt to regard the marvellous youth as a one stroke player. All through the decisive stages of the match when Inman appeared to possess a fighting chance, Gray's stroke play was brilliant in the extreme. But in the later stages when victory was assured, it was curious to note that Gray's biggest breaks were almost invariably terminated by failure at the three-quarter run-through into the middle pocket which is such a pet stroke of his. It was also noticed that at times his winning hazard striking was not so lean and accurate as we are accustomed to expect from him.

With the exception of Tom Reece and Cecil Harverson, both of whom are on tour abroad, the former in Australia and the Colonial in South Africa, all the leading professionals put in an appearance at the National Sporting Club during the progress of the Inman-Gray match, and we were all pleased to see the famous Yorkshireman, Charlie Dawson, who looked the picture of health.

On several occasions, John Roberts was seen closely following the doings of the Australian, while the twelfth session was witnessed by a Cabinet Minister, John Burns, who appeared to be greatly interested in the game.

During the penultimate session of the match there were several billiard enthusiasts present, who loudly voiced their opinions.

After Inman had recorded a fine double century break, from which Gray got in and was playing his favourite loser, but was only enabled to use the two centre pockets and the top left receptacle, his opponent's cue ball being right in the jaws of the top right pocket. When Gray had made about 150 a voice broke the intense silence with the remark, "Give him a chance, lad." Gray did!—half-a-dozen strokes later he downed Inman and left a double baulk!

For three entire sittings, Inman had only two visits to the table, and failed to score a point, which is doubtless a record, since the days of Peall on the "spot."

The followers of Inman were rejoicing on the result of the first day's play, for whereas Gray had only scored 695, the "Terrier" had totalled 1333, his proper quota of points. The Australian passed Inman during the fourth session at 1997-1996, and from then onward it was only a question of how many would Gray win by. Making every post a winning post, Gray eventually ran to game by the large margin of 8761, the biggest win so far of the tour.

NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB

G. GRAY v. M. INMAN, 16,000 UP, LEVEL FOR £100

Final scores:

AT THURSTON'S

G. GRAY v. W. COOK (rec. 1,500), 4,500 up

Final scores: