THE ex-champion seems to have "struck a bad patch." The week before last Inman inflicted a crushing defeat on him in their heat in the Soho Tournament, whilst last week Reece served him even more unkindly. The pair played at the Cambridge Hall, Sheffield, the game being one of 9,000 up, and Reece receiving a start of 2,500. From the very start the latter had all the better of the game, and finally won by no fewer than 2,430 points, this being by far the most crushing defeat that the ex-champion has sustained for some years past. He played well at times, but did not show anything like his best form, and possibly needs a rest.
Reece, on the other hand, was nearly always going well, and on Friday night made the extraordinary average of 270.15 for the session, which he brought to a close with an unfinished 399. This he converted on Saturday afternoon into 501, which beats his previous best by no fewer than 119 points, but as, unfortunately, the table had not been passed as a standard by the Billiard Association, this brilliant effort cannot count as a record. Details:—
Play was not of a very interesting nature on the opening day of the game, neither player being in particularly good form. Reece had the better of matters, his best efforts amounting to 86 (full from 45 unfinished), 85, and 84, while Stevenson, with the exception of a run of 104, did nothing worth mentioning.
Both players were seen to better advantage to-day, Stevenson.making excellent progress in the afternoon with breaks of 171, 76, 130, 111, and 155. Reece, meanwhile, after raising an incomplete item of 28 to the full total of 132, contributed a nice break of 106, while, in the evening, he actually scored a total of 541 points to Stevenson's aggregate of 474, his chief break being 89 to the scratch man's highest of 112 and 74.
Stevenson was in grand form this afternoon, aggregating 758 points in his first six innings. He amassed brilliant compilations of 89, 101, 82, 264, 100, 122, 187, 112, and 90, but Reece, with breaks of 171, 75, and 106 managed to reach his points. In the evening Reece had the better of the argument, contributing excellent breaks of 139 (full from 40 unfinished), 112, and 157, and averaging 49 to Stevenson's 35. With the exception of a fine 277 the latter player did nothing noteworthy.
On resuming this afternoon Reece raised his unfinished 157 to the full total of 237, subsequently making good progress with breaks of 231, 60, and 65 (unfinished). Stevenson was also in useful form and was responsible for contributions of 260, 126, and 61 (twice). In the evening, however, the latter player was quite out of touch and only aggregated 273 points with a best break of 128, Reece failed to add to. his incomplete item, but reached his points with compilations of 92, 254, and 79.
Closing scores:—Stevenson had much the better of matters this afternoon, aggregating 914 points to Reece's 543, and contributing brilliant breaks of 101, 96, 105, 195, 124, and 83, while the leader's chief efforts only realised 166 and 65 (unfinished). Reece was in magnificent form at night when, after raising his unfinished 65 to the full total of 207, he amassed a grand compilation of 399 (unfinished), finishing the session with the splendid average of 270.15. Stevenson averaged 80, his highest break being 160, and at the conclusion he was 2,058 behind the leader.
On resuming this afternoon Reece increased his unfinished break to the grand total of 501, thereby exceeding his previous record by 119 points. He subsequently contributed runs of 193 and 88 to Stevenson's highest of 117 and 137. The scratch player could not get going at the final session, his best break being one of 65, and Reece, with contributions of 80 (full from 4 unfinished), 125, 93, and 88 ran out the winner by no fewer than 2,430 points.