The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-04 00:00:00

MATCH BETWEEN ROBERTS AND CHARLES

HUGHES.

This match came off at St. James's Hall last (Tuesday)
evening the Champion giving his opponent 350 points out
of 1,000. Notwithstanding that the high price of admis-
sion (7s. 6d.), on which there was no redaction to accom-
modate " class," rendered the company exceedingly select,
there was a very large attendance—in fact, scarcely a seat
to spare. An old public favourite like John Roberts can
always command his own price, and certainly the reception
he met with when he came up to the "scratch" showed no
diminution of his popularity. He looked wonderfully well,
and with his usual jovial spirits not all impaired. Charles
Hughes also appeared in good fettle, and received the re-
sidue of the "lion's share" of applause with his accustomed
affability. The time advertised for commencement was
slightly exceeded, but at twenty-five minutes to nine the
ball was set rolling by the combatants " stringing" for the
break, which Hughes won, and began the play with the
usual miss in baulk. The betting only amounted to a few
small wagers not worth mentioning, at all sorts of odds
on Roberts. Nothing of any importance took place on
eisher side for about a quarter of an hour, neither seeming
to be in a hurry to begin, but here the Champion let out
his " old:.'uns," and did not trouble himself about stopping
until he had scored 149 off the reel. To say that this was
a well-played break would be nothing short of gilding
refined gold. It was full of brilliant strokes, and one-
half was accomplished with only two balls. Getting over
difficulty after difficulty, or what might be termed such to
any one but this billiard magician, he pegged away, giving
touches of marvellous cannons, cross-cushions, screws, and
ups and downs, until he lost one of the white balls, and
then, working his way up to spot, popped the " straw-
berry" nine times in succession, besides doing some "losers'
that might win any game ; and it was trying one of these
that he broke down, his score standing 209. Hughes made
nothing at all to boast of up to this, his best break consist-
ing of 28, and the others were miserably small. Roberts,
continuing to make the pace hot, went on and added a 61,
two 51's, and 33 to his account with the marker, until a
quarter before ten, when there occurred an interval for re-
freshments; his beers standing at 501 to Hughes's 478,
having thus caught and passed his adversary before half
the journey had been traversed. Hughes did not improve
upon the break before mentioned, a modest 15 being the
highest after that. Charley, however, displayed several of
his own peculiar cannons, which, for grace and finish of
execution, have never been excelled.
The truce being over at 10 min. past 10, hostilities were
renewed by Roberts going on with the break, which he
paused in, to allow the spectators to refresh themselves.
Manipulating 14, he "fell down," and let up Hughes, who
gave some indications of a return to form. Nothing out
of the way then was seen for a dozen breaks, when Roberts
put on 46, Hughes retiring into the shade again. Shortly
after Roberts took a pull for 53, Hughes only feebly ans veer-
ing with about 20. So the game went in favour of the
" crack," who seemed to have the other quite at his mercy
till just about half an hour before the termination, when
Hughes put on two or three tremendous spurts, and mak-
ing up lost ground at a great rate brought his score up to
803, while Roberts stood at 826. Hughes here offered to
back himself at 5 to 1, but there was na response, his
chance being now, from his superior play, considered by
no means out. The Champion, however, again went ahead,
stringing his favourite spot strokes a dozes at a time, and
seemed to be playing with his opponent in a double sense,
and though Hughes eventually ►uauaged to teach. 911, the
Champion walked iu with 56 punts to spare. Hughes's
highest break was 4S, containing thirteen spot-strokes.
The appended table will show how the game stood at
various periods, being marked at the end of breaks :

Time. Roberts. Hughes.
8.45
9. 0
9.15
An interval occurred here
play was resumed at ten min'
Time. Roberts. Hughes.
10.30
10.45
11. 0
11.15

Timo. Roberts. Hughes

9.30
468
9.45

of tweuty-fivo minutes, and
utes past ton.
ITime. Roberts. Hughes.
11.26
11.45
11.57 lOOO 91-1

Roberts thus won by 56 points.
A match was made at tho conclusion botwoon J)soph
Bennett and John Roberts, jun., for £l.OO to coma
off at St. James's Ilan in siz woks. •