New-York tribune., 1918-12-24
Harvard Club ''Ace'' Takes
Three Brilliant Games
From Yale Club Rival
By A. C. Cavagnaro


John W. Appel, jr., the present Har-
ward Club squash tennis "ace," scored
in overwhelming fashion in downing
Edwin j. Clapp, of the Yale Club, in
the three times postponed final round
match of the annual handicap tourney
Of the National Squash Tennis Associa-
tion at the Columbia University Club
courts yesterday. Clapp found it i'm
possible to batter down the terrific and
puzzling attack of his rival, thereby
sustaining a rout by scores of 1913,
15-3, 15-S.
The above final tally does not in a
small degree indicate the true merit of
play exhibited by Appel. The latter
was compelled to play from minus
10 aces in each game, while Clapp was
granted start Of aces. Therefore
Clapp's crushing defeat is best told in
the recapitulation table, which shows
that Appel actually made 7S points
during the tourney, as against IS for
his rival
games the Harvard entrant accom-
plished feat rarely before cqualled in
tournament play. This was in defeat
ing every opponent he faced without
losing a single game. In one of his
early victories in the series Appel set
I'D a new record when he collected 49
points while holding his rival scoreless
He added to this unprecedented
achievement by running up a total of
game.
Clapp Makes Game Fight
Clapp made a game fight throughout
the match to contend with the varied
attack and smashing play of his Grim
son rival but all to no avail. Appel
depended almost continually on q
round e-court game, placing particu-
lar stress upon bringing the ball back
swiftly into the left-hand corner of the
back wall Clapp seemed unable to
"dig up" the ball, and forfeited many
points on this shot. Appel also fire.
quently caught his opponent out OF
position on placement shots, while his
lightning-like driving saw Clapp miss
ing often in attempting to intercept the
ball.
Clapp presented his most determined
front in the first game, when he forced
his 210-pound rival to extra points tt
win. In this match Clapp scored sur
prisingly in consistent manner, and i
was only Appel's ability to collec
points in clusters that enabled him tC
win In the third inning Appel scorec
aces, ard with another run Of
points in the sixth inning, evened the
ratio in his driving, but soon collected
himself when Clapp held a lead of l;
to 10. Continuing his consistent scor
ing, Appel set the game at 13-all, an6
only required an extra inning to make
his necessary points. Appel scoret
in every inning Of the game.
The second game was rather draw
out, due to Appel's slackening down il
his tornado-like attack. In this gam,
Clapp got his only point in the thirt
inning, when the ball hit Appel. Th'
latter apparently refreshed by a drinl
of water, resumed his furious attack
AS Clapp was firing badly and finding
it exceedingly difficult to fool Appel
the latter began to add to his score.
Gathers IL Points.
A brilliant piece of playing by Appe
came in the eleventh inning, when HI
gath cred ~ points, which placed hin
in the lead by 8 to 4. This high rul
saw Clapp being trapped out of posi-
ton and utterly unable to follow tn
fast pace.
Appel was as steady as rock in tn
third game, and it was in this contes
that he showed the smashing power an,
swift attack that he is capable to carr,
to an oponent. While he still relied OF
q round -the-court-g game to count hi
points, Appel resorted frequently t
"kills" with the Eli man at times neve
getting his racquet to the ball. Appe
retrieved the handicap quickly anc
after getting on even terms, lapsed int
state of inaccurate driving. However
he soon resumed his pressing and, a
Appel scored his final point on beau
tiful placement shot, the painting Clap
declared that he was glad the mate
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