Tommy Reece has made good in the land of the Southern Cross. What Melbourne said yesterday of his beautiful action and delicate touch at the table Sydney are saying to-day. Moreover he is an immense favourite with the whole of the Australian sporting public—and that practically comprises the whole population—by reason of his great geniality and affable manners.
The popular Lancastrian is, as you know, a most delightful raconteur, and he has considerably enhanced his reputation in this direction since coming out here—possibly as the result of the extraordinary climate—Tommy has, as I have already said, "made extra good" with our Australian cousins.
This is how friend "Hughie" Boyle, hon. secretary of the N.S.W. Amateur Billiard Association, describes Tommy's play in the match now proceeding in Sydney against young Fred Lindrum, the Australasian champion:—"Billiardists in search of high-class, interesting and delightful billiards from the cues of two of the cream of the profession should not miss seeing this match. Reece is a billiardist all over; his pose is perfection, his movements at the table are rapid and graceful, his delivery free, and his billiards —well, superior." And as friend "Hughie" can handle a cue equally as well as a pen, he should know what he is talking about.
In the match of 16,000 up level, at Melbourne, which ended on Monday, June 12th, in the defeat of Reece by some 5,900 odd points, Fred Lindrum, after the first three days, relied exclusively on losing hazard off the red ball. It is interesting to note that Lindrum openly expressed his intention of beating Tommy at the all-round game, but finding the Englishman slipping away from him on the third day, the Australian got on the all-red route, and stuck to it to the bitter end. Twice Lindrum broke the Australian record in that game with breaks of 845 and 1,239, which, of course, sent the locals into deliriums of delight, but I was not so greatly impressed. I had seen George Gray make many thousands in England by the same methods, and, to tell you the truth, I got a little tired of it all. Still this much may be said—Lindrum plays the stroke much more attractively than Gray, and, moreover, scores at the rate of one minute for 33 strokes faster than his younger countryman. His action is not nearly as mechanical as that of Gray, and he takes less time to spot his ball for the long losers than the pioneer of the "new-old" billiards. Lindrum is such a fine all-round, and withal natural, player that one regrets to see him waste his natural talent on the red-ball fetish. That may seem a strong remark to make, but if one is to take heed of the remarks one hears among the followers of billiards in Melbourne and Sydney, then it is not over-stating the case to say that the "red-ball" game is not popular amongst those who call the tune. Even Lindrum himself detests the stroke. He has described it to me as ping-pong off the top cushion, and, faith, it is an apt description. Why, then, does he exploit it? As a means to an end —to lick his opponent.
Fred has something else in his mind in playing the stroke. He has an idea of going home to England and tackling George Gray at his own particular game. The Australian, champion thinks he can beat young George, but I have told him he has not the ghost of a chance. Even if he were as skilful as Gray over the all-red route, which he isn't by a long way—not yet, at any rate, I should still favour the chance of the boy who is in your midst. Gray has the ideal billiards temperament; Lindrum has not. Need one say more? Whether Lindrum will go to England at the expiration of the present Australian season or not has not yet been finally settled, but personally I think you will have him amongst you somewhere about the beginning of October. He is very anxious to go, but much depends on the financial offers he is expecting to make the trip home.
Lindrum and Reece are having a great match in Sydney just now, and the neck and neck character of the struggle may be gauged from the fact that but four points divided the scores at the close of the eighth day's play: Lindrum, 10,668; Reece, 10,664.
Both are playing remarkably brilliant billiards, but Reece is a good way ahead of Lindrum in finesse and the finer parts of the game. Lindrum is not drawing on his red-ball reserve to the same extent as at Melbourne, but comes away now and again with a break off the "tomato" in order to keep alongside of his rival.
Results apart, Reece is playing great billiards with the bonzoline balls when one remembers that he never handled this make of ball until he landed in Australia. He averaged over 38 for his first fortnight's game in Melbourne against Lindrum, and in the present game his average is well over 40—a splendid tribute to the excellence of the balls used in the matches. Tommy and self are in the best of health and spirits, and desire to be remembered to all friends at home.