We feel sure that our readers will be interested in the following contemporaneous account of the first matcn ever played for the Championship between John Roberts, the elder, and William Cook, senior. The game was 1,200 up, and took place at St. James's Hall on February llth, 1870, and was honoured by the attendance of Royalty and a large number of sporting noblemen.
The under-mentioned description of the match is taken from "Bell's Life in London," and is decidedly interesting to billiard enthusiasts of the present day: —
At 27 minutes past 8, the balls having been previously weighed by Mr. Cox, the players strung for break, the event being gained by Cook, who, of course, sent his opponent to the scratch, and, after a double miss on both sides, the champion, John Roberts, by a succession of all-round play, including some magnificent cannons, made 22 ere he broke down at a red loser in the left-hand middle pocket. Cook did not score, and his opponent following with a similar result, the former made 8, but failed at a red loser, and let Roberts in. The latter now obtained 5, after which the young 'un, commencing with a red loser, ran up a pretty 19. Roberts made 3, but failed to score a cannon, his opponent going on without a result; a cannon was the champion's next contribution, and again Cook failed to add to his score.
Roberts now put together a brilliant 19, when he missed a screw cannon; and his opponent, pulling himself together, obtained position for the spot, but, unfortunately, at his second essay made a foul stroke, the rest coming in contact with his opponent's ball. Roberts, however, only made 3, and now Cook got in with an all-round break of 37, including seven successive cannons; and the score being now— Roberts, 58; Cook, 94. The former made 7, and his opponent 12, whereby he obtained his first 100 in 18 minutes. Roberts failed to bring off a red loser, and Cook, once more getting in, put together a carefully-played 18 ere he came to grief at a white loser in the top right-hand pocket. Roberts now pulled up with a splendid break of 20, including some brilliant red losing hazards, and then he let Cook in, who only managed a cannon. Roberts, although he made a cannon which fairly brought down the house, could do no more, and a succession of non-scoring took place ere Cook got in again, when, having made a red loser, he obtained position for the spot, but broke down at the sixth, leaving the red right over the pocket. Roberts, however, failed to make a cannon, and there was now a slight pause in the game.
With the score Cook 151, Roberts 88, the latter made a careful 16 ere he failed at a double event—red winner and a cannon. Cook only made 7, when he missed a red winner, leaving the ball on the brink of the pocket.
Roberts obtained 9 by three red losers, and then broke down at a cannon, the game being called—Cook, 158; Roberts, 113. The former now ran up 17 by a succession of cannons, breaking down at the seventh, and Roberts added 7, when he came to grief at a cannon. The young 'un did not score, and Roberts, commencing with a white loser, made a splendid cannon, bringing the red out of baulk, but broke down at his next stroke. Cook, having made half a score, failed at a red loser, leaving his own ball close on the bottom right-hand pocket. Roberts potted his opponent, and played for double baulk, but, fluking the red, gave a miss. Cook did not add anything, and Roberts having made half a score, the younger player obtained 9, and the game was called—Roberts, 140; Cook, 199.
The veteran, by some good all-round cannons, 150, obtained position for the spot, but only gained the stroke twice; he, however, followed on with a cannon, and, leaving the red on the pocket, scored a red winner, and missed a cannon.
Again there was a lull in the game, but the score having reached to Cook 203, Roberts 171, the former by some very pretty but careful hazards ran up 21, but failing, let in the veteran; the latter, however, only obtained two hazards, and Cook then put together 9. Roberts then, having made 7, potted his opponent, and gave a miss. With the game Roberts 187, Cook 241, the former went on and made 34 (including three five strokes and five spots), when he broke down at a red winner and cannon, leaving the red over the top right-hand pocket. Cook, however, attempted a white loser and failed, the play again fallng off a bit. The score being Roberts 229, Cook 249. the former got together a brilliant 16, breaking down at a cannon when only two points behind Cook, who, however, went away again with a very pretty and careful 38, including some brilliant red losers, each of which was received with great applause by the spectators.
Safety was now the order of the day, nothing being done until the game was called—Roberts 259, Cook 290, when the latter broke down at a red loser. Roberts now ran up 19 in his old style ere be let Cook in; commencing with a brilliant cannon, the latter increased his score by 24, and came to grief at the spot. Roberts did not score, and Cook only made a cannon; after which the veteran made 9, breaking down at his third spot, his opponent, after scoring a winning hazard and gaining position for the spot, doing the same.
The champion only made 5 when he came to grief, and leaving the balls, the younger player took advantage of his opponent, making 22, gained by all-round play, ere he failed to score a red loser.
Both players having failed to score anything, Roberts potted his opponent's ball, but, playing carelessly for the double baulk, left both balls out. Neither again scored, and Cook, going on, ran up 16 ere he mulled a cannon in the top left-hand corner, the score being—Roberts, 294; Cook, 369.
The old 'un now got together a finely-played 30, when he failed at his second spot, and his opponent, commencing with a red loser, answered to the calls of his supporters with a loudly-applauded and careful 23, when he failed at a white loser, leaving the white on the brink of the top left-hand pocket. Roberts potted his opponent, and left a double baulk. Cook did not score, and the champion brought down the house with a magnificent cannon.
Again Cook added nothing, after which Roberts increased his numbers by a fine all-round 14 ere he came to grief at a cannon. The game being called—Roberts 350, Cook 394, the latter put together 28 ere he had hard lines with a cannon, missing it by a hair's breadth. A pretty and wellturned 28 was the champion's next contribution, when he failed at the spot hazard, leaving the red over the left-hand pocket. Cook now led off with a red winner, and augmented his score by 20 ere he broke down at a red winner in the right-hand middle pocket.
Roberts following, put together 20, and accidentally potting the white attempted the double baulk, but left the red out, and, Cook not scoring, the veteran added another 13, when he let his opponent in.
The latter, however, missed a cannon by a hair's breadth, and the champion having made 6, a non-score on both sides followed. Cook now made 7, and failed to bring off the spot, leaving the red hanging on the brink of the right-hand pocket. Roberts followed with half a score, and a pause in the play occurred, both players repeatedly missing some very near things.
With the score Cook 456, Roberts 433, the former made 9 and left a double baulk, and, Roberts not scoring, supplemented it with another 13, missing his second spot. The champion now got in with 33 (seven successive cannons), and, Cook not scoring, brought down the house with a fine red winner and cannon, but failed at a cannon immediately afterwards. Small scores from both brought the totals up to —Cook, 487; Roberts, 463. The latter made 8, followed by one less from his opponent, who made a very mild attempt at a spot. The veteran now, by the aid of 22, got up to within 2 of Cook and left a double baulk, and, the latter giving a miss, made 3 and took the lead.
At this point 600 to 400 would have been taken in several places, but Cook, getting in once more, again took foremost place with a break of 14, and a 7 from Roberts and a miss from both brought the score up to—Cook, 509; Roberts, 504. An 8 from Cook and 12 from the veteran were next called, and the latter having left the balls safe, Cook gave a miss, the marker amidst great excitement calling the game at 517 all.
A non-score from Roberts and a cannon from Cook were followed by a non-contribution from the old 'un. Cook then made 7, and, his opponent again missing, brought down the house with two cannons and again let Roberts in. The latter, however, only made 3, and Cook put together a very pretty and useful 49, finishing up with an easily made miss in baulk. Roberts did not score, and the younger man then ran up another all-round 42, and, the time being 10.47, and game, Roberts 521, Cook 625, an adjournment was made for the interval.
At 11.17 play was resumed by Roberts, who, however, only made a cannon, followed by a four from Cook, who had hard lines with a cannon. After a 10 from Roberts, who left a double baulk, Cook made nothing, while a 3 from Roberts and a miss from Cook brought the score up to—Cook, 641; Roberts, 540. The latter did not score and Cook gave a miss, after which his opponent again not making anything, the young 'un put together 18, failing at a red loser. Again Roberts made nothing, and Cook, having obtained 6, failed at a white loser, leaving his ball on the pocket. The champion put him down and missed a red winner; after which, Cook not scoring, he made a quiet 7 ere he let the young 'un in.
The latter now had miserable luck with a cannon, and Roberts, just missing a white loser, once more failed to count. The champion then, by the aid of some brilliant cannons, made 17, and Cook, for the fourth time in succession, added nothing to Ms score.
The next contribution was one of 8 from Roberts, who left a double baulk, and, Cook making a miss-cue, the old 'un got a red hazard and let the younger player in. Cook, by the aid of some brilliant cannons, ran up 27 ere he missed a white loser and let the champion in. The latter, who elicited a round of applause for a beautiful red winner, however, only made 11 when he just missed & cannon, and Cook made 7. Roberts did not score, and his opponent only added 4, after which the former obtained a careful 7, and missed a red loser in the top left-hand pocket.
Cook started with a cannon, and, by the aid of some clever hazards and pretty cannons, put on 80 ere he came to grief at a red loser, the game bsing now —Cook 785, Roberts 600, and this the largest and best-played break of the evening. The champion only made 5 when he let Cook in, and the latter quickly put together a dozen, and gave a miss in baulk, followed by a splendid cannon from Roberts, who, however, had very bad luck with nis next stroke (also a cannon), and Cook, getting in, carefully put together 18, when he missed a very difficult cannon, the white being covered. The veteran now increased his numbers by a score, and, after a non-score on both sides, Cook had a somewhat lucky white loser after hard lines with a cannon. Roberts then opened with a splendid cannon, but, after making 12, let Cook in, who, gaining position, made 23 (three spots), and, Roberts not scoring, added 16, and broke down at the spot. The game now being—Roberts 640, Cook 856, the former made a score, and, missing a white loser, Cook put on 5 and came to grief. A non-score from both players followed, and then the veteran made 16, including a fine 6, breaking down at a red loser.
Cook, who for the last thirty minutes had been playing a studied and careful game, ran up 22 ere he failed at a red winner in the middle right-hand pocket, following after which the old 'un with pretty play (his red hazards calling forth repeated applause) made 26, and Cook not scoring a difficult red loser, supplemented it with half a score ere he missed a cannon. Again Cook scored nothing, and the champion, by some all-round play, put on 17.
For the third time Cook failed to score, and his opponent, following on, made 17, the score being—Cook, 883; Robsrts, 746. After a non-score from each, repeated applause greeting a splendid red winner from Roiberts, the latter got 24, and, after a white winner from Cook, added another 14. Cook did not score, and the veteran put on 12. A succession of poor breaks now took place until the game was called—Roberts 804, Cook 899, when the former, though he only made 11, got them in such style that we must not pass it over. The younger player now once more got in, and, aided by four spots, he by skilful played obtained 63, but had very hard luck with a cannon, leaving both balls together, and again there was a lull. When the score was—Roberts 828, Cook 962, the former ran up 62, but was answered by 15 from the other side, the game at 12.50 standing—Cook, 981; Roberts, 892. The next break worth noticing was not made until the marker called the game—Roberts, 899; Cook, 981, when the latter rattled away with a brilliant 35 (four spots), and, failing at a red loser, put his ball in the jaws of the top left-hand pocket, having put together 1,000 in 3hrs. 52min.
The old 'un, however, only turned his opponent's ball out and placed his own in its place. After a lull Roberts made 39, followed by 8 only from Cook. A score from the old 'un, who made a misscue, followed, and his opponent doing nothing, the veteran added 11. After another non-score from Cook, Roberts made 31, and another lull followed. With the score Cook 1,036, Roberts 997, the latter struck Cook's ball off the table. The aspirant now gave a miss, and no scores of note for a time took place; Roberts, however, got in with a somewhat lucky 39, and thus took the lead.
The marker, amidst intense excitement, called the game—Roberts, 1,041; Cook, 1,037. Cook now made 4 to his opponent's 7, and then, not to be daunted, by an additional contribution of 26 once more gained the lead and played safety. These tactics being again pursued on both sides, Cook got in with 31, and took thereby a more decided command. Game—Cook, 1,100; Roberts, 1,051.
Although the breaks were small, intense excitement prevailed, as Cook twice had bad luck, the following being their respective contributions— Cook, 13, 7, 5; Roberts, 5, 6, 8, 3, 8; and the full score being called—Cook, 1,132; Roberts, 1,083. The former went right out with a magnificent all-round break of 68, making the winning stroke, a red loser in the left-hand middle pocket, at 1.38, the full game being—Cook 1,200, Roberts 1,083; the latter at last, after so many years, losing his title of champion by 117 points.
The game was marked with the greatest care throughout by D. Andrews.