India sustained her second defeat in the World Amateur Billiards Championship at the Great Eastern hotel on Thursday night when Wilson Jones of the host country went down fighting to Walter Ramage of Scotland. The final scores read – Ramage 1498 and Jones 1175.
The result was somewhat unexpected although it must be admitted that the better tactician won. Jones who is well reputed for his consistency for once failed to live up to his name and fame. He was looking mostly unlike himself in the first session and it seemed as though he had left his scoring cue elsewhere.
Ramage ‘s consistency on the other hand was in evidence almost right through the first session . The Scottish champion did every thing right on the table and was a marvel of accuracy so far as potting was concerned.
But in spite of everything Ramage had only one three- figure break – 164 in the first session.
In the second session Ramage played even better in scoring 113 in his visit and also replied with 120 against Jone’s 116 in their sixth visits. Jones chalked up 178 in his seventh visit but there after faded away completely from the picture . it was remarkable indeed for Jones’ to have taken his score to 901 when Ramage was 977. But subsequently Jone’s progress was stunted and Ramage went on increasing the lead with 61, 75 and 148 to his credit.
Walter Ramage gained a valuable lead of 708 to 474 points over India’s Wilson Jones at the end of the first session
Wilson Jone’s performance of 474 points in the two hours was had for him, but undeniably he was clogged by bad luck. Seldom after Ramage left the table were the balls not “ safe†. Often after producing a brilliant stroke ti make a “cannon ‘ one of the balls would roll into “ baulk†.
That was the run of the play for Jones.
It was only on two occasions that Jones after an uphill climp managed to reach the top of the table, on both occasions he missed potting the red after knocking up 85.
The rate of scoring in the session was poor and after twenty minutes play . Ramage was in the lead with 148 to Jone’s 28 points.
Prior to this , Jones IN 13 visits failed repeatedly and the best break to his credit was 28: While Ramage’s best were 44, 44. At this stage Ramage led by 148to 57 points.
Visiting the table for the fourteenth time Jones reached the top of the table to make a break of 85 and was only trailing behind Ramage by 6 points. Ramage struck back with a break of 164 the only century break of the session scored in fourteen minutes. This was followed by breaks of 84, 56 and at the end of the play Ramage had a break of 52 ( In play).
Jone’s highest breaks in the session were:- 85, 73, 68 and 58.
Play during the second session was mostly with Ramage. Jones except for his two century breaks 116 and 178 failed mostly to stand up to a big score. Jones played eleven away shots against nine of Ramage. Jones had also three above- fifty breaks of 68, 92 and 52 in the second session.
The match average of Jones was 18.36 While that of his victor was 23.4.
FRIDAY’S BILLIARDS
R. Marshall (Australia) vs. C. Hirjee (India) – 5.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.