Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-20

Y rOOuG Vets plety GU Oli lAiO Soot~S of the National Roque association on Wednesday, and the second day of the 33d annual tournament brought It's surprises. The chief of these was Champion Everett w. Robinsons tenn porary Jack of form at numner oL critical stages, which cost him als game with Harold Clark, present lead CT of the first division, and agaln the match in which he met his father in the afternoon. Playing at tlmes his usual steady, consistent, well caicuiat- ed game, the champion occasionally failed to put through some easy shots, and these slips, with the opportunity they gave his two watchful opponents to get him safely wired up were the factors in two defeats that will make it hard for him to become dangerous to the championship contenders. Yet if he .'comes back in the games that are to follow there is nghtlng chance for the young champion and with their hardest games before the other leaders it is too early to predict the outcome of the week. Harold CIark's Chances Look Good.
 Harold Clark, however, at the pres ent standing. seems to have the odds in his favor. His record of games won and lost and the brilliance that at times marks his always careful game :. indicate that he has splendid chance for maintaining his present winning stride His games with Loue Stockwell of Norwich, who is among the most promising of the younger players. and later against Frank H. Foss of Willi- mantle, who entered, the tourney on Wednesday after a lapse of several years, gave him opportunity to show his skill with mallet and balls but it was the contest with Champion Rob- inson that brought out his fine points of technique and his headwork. Be- tween the two experts there was little margin as they made the circuit of the arches with their two balls. but. margin of steadineSs while Robins on missed a couple of fairly easy ones brought the Springfield player in to the stake the winner. It was one of the decisive battles of the tourney. But when Harold meets his brother Eddie, and when the Clarks meet Cox, there are quite likely to be further complications.
 Eddie Clark in his opening games Wednesday displayed the same ac- curacy of eye and bo1dneSs of shoot ing that has returned him champion three times before. H. T. Webb, wro himself is no mean player, had hardly a chance before the almost faultless precision of the Springfield roquist. Clark took one ball around to the last arch and the other to the cage before Webb had much more than started the game. The latter was frequently left in embarrassing positions which his peSL cdTOIulnS COulQ not get nm out of Eddie Clark had less difficulty in his games with Foss and Stockwell It is only fair to say that the Will- mantle player is handicapped by his absence from the game for several seasons and by his lack of preliminary practice. In the old days he could wield the mallet with the best of them. He did succeed in trimming Charles Jacobus on Wednesday, while Webb evened up his defeat at Clark's hands by taking one from F'oss.
 Downed the President.
 A most interesting game to watch was that between President William son and w. C. Rodman, the Philadel- phian, Wednesday afternoon. It was peppery affair, on the surface at least,sand the veterans were doing thelr best to show the onlookers roque as it may be played. A very even game 1t was. too, and warm were the con- gratulations showered upon Rodman when he finally disposed of his doughty antagonist. It happened to he MT. Williamsons' second defeat, his chain of victories being broken when Charlie Williams little earlier settled the championship of the District of Columbia by taking the balls away from his worthy fellow Washington ian.
 With the start of the Van Wiekle play in the evening, a new element of
 
 in the first nights play carried on un- der weather conditions that were oo- pressive in the extreme. Eddie Clark, the defender, demonstrated his play ing power more conclusively than ever. He took both games after the best roque that has been seen on the courts. The only drawback was the combination of temperature, humidity and rain. and in spite of the circuln- stances the crowd at theA Rockwell street grounds was good sized and appreciative of good playing. Tubhs' band, with Director Swahn' leading, gave a well selected programme and 1t was announced that this evening the continuance of the Van Wickle games will be marked by the observance of business mems and club night, with music by. Swahn's orchestra and Mas ter Harry Allen, the five year old cor netist.
 Clark Leads for Van WickIe.
 In the opening game for the fast Van Wicl1le. Bosworth got the bafis at the saart and was carving them around the arches with ease when d miss gave Clark just the chance he