The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
R. E. FINK TRIUMPHS
IN SQUASH FINAL
Defeats Ralph G. Coburn in
Straight Games for Ma
tional Handicap Trophy.
by SAMUEL j. BROOKMAN.

by SAMUEL j. BHOOhMAN'
Convincing in every way was the VIC
tory OF r. Earl Fink Of the Crescent
Athletic Club in the final round OF the
national squash tennis handicap at the
Harvard Club yesterday. His early
round efforts had been impressive. bur
IL remained for the concluding match
of the tournament to bring to light his
most spectacular speed. court craft and
dexterity of stroke. In three straight
games Fink triumphed over Ralph @.
Coburn of the Harvard Club, overcom'
ing n handicap of three aces game
and leading by 15-l2, Isl, lbs
Coburn earned tenth place In national
rank last season, and apparently mas
been playing as well as ever this win
ter, yet he proved no match for the
Crescent man. who year ago was not
rated within several points of his rival.
Scores sometimes are deceptive, put
the comparative total of points earned,
81 to Il, gives a true idea in this case
of the superiority of the winners game.
While Fink showed marked ad-
vantage In every respect. his greatest
asset was his dexterity OF stroke. His
ability to make the most difficult sort
of returns from apparently Impossible
angles turned many rally In MS
favor. Coburn opened confidently. ana
for while held the upper hand, but
IL was not long before Fink struck his
stride and converted shots that appar-
emily were hopelessly out or his reach
Into winning points. Time and again
Coburn appeared to have the Crescent
player out OF position, but the latter
while wheeling almost lin a complete
circle as the ball sped around the court,
brought his racquet into play with the
same motion and with astonishing ac'
curacy as the sphere bounded off the
back wall Generally Fink had to take
the ball on the backhand, but his con-
troll of that stroke was good, ana as
the match advanced Fink was getting
Just as much sting to his backhanders
as he impaired to the forehand drives.
Versatility of Fink's Attack.
The versatility of Fink's attack and
his ability to outguess ~him In most
of the rallies had Coburn on the de-
fensive during the greater part or the
match The Harvard man. finding HIM
self outmanoeuvred. began after the
first game TO place chief reliance on
powerful hitting. Fink, however. not
only met most of the smashes cleanly.
but answered with some hard driving
of his own, and as Coburn was not as
brilliant getter as Fink. the result
was inevitable.
Coburn's high bounding service both
cred Fink at the start. The crescent
mans return of service at that stage
was more or less of defensive stroke
and Coburn waiting for the return was
I'm a position to defect the shot Tor o.
winning point. The tournament handi-
caps were minus aces for FINK ana
minus 2 aces for Coburn, but under the
| 4oHn IA
minus handicap players Fink moved UP
To minus 3 aces and his opponent TO
scratch. Fink overcame the handicap in
short order and the score was love-
all nj the end OF the third hand. AL
that point Fink experienced difficulty in
handling Coburn's service, and the lat
ter ran into a lead that grew to 10 TO z
Fink did not appear able 10 get going.
With the opening of the eleventh hand'
however the Crescent racquet wieioer
had recovered command OF his stroke
and he Immediately attacked at top
speed, getting every ounce OF Strength
into his drives into the corners ana tol-
lowing the ball keenly. Coburn was
taken by surprise by the suddenness and
drive OF Fink's rally and before he could
force him handout, the latter had count
cd ten aces. four on placements, three
on telltales. two on outs and one on
service ace. II was an exceptionally
high run for a tournament final. Tnus'
instead OF trailing at 2-lO, FINK was
out in front by 12--1O.
Fink Plays at Top Speed.
Placing the game quickly to his credit
at t5-l2. Fink continued at top speed
in the second. scoring in every one OF
eight hands and counting is points TO
for Coburn. The third game, unth the
last few hands, was just as one sided
Fink had moved up from minus aces
to plus IA and needed only one point TO
end the match when Coburn gave all he
Ia lee, In a last abort IN earn at least