The New York herald., 1921-12-08
7. COWARD SURPRISE
IN SQUASH VICTORY
Plays Brilliantly in Defeating
r. Earl Fink-Semi-Final
Reached.
ny SAMUEL j. BRooKMAN.

In single season Thomas Coward
ranks Of the newcomers at squash ten
mis- last winter to a place in the first
ten in national rank. Yesterday. IN do
feating r. Earl Fink in the third round
of the National Squash Tennis Associa-
tion's winter tournament, Coward gave
evidence that he intends to progress still
further toward the top; that he is
ready in fact to take his place among
The title contenders.
He played by far the most convincing,
the most spectacular squash Of his
short career yesterday. After a little
uncertainty in the first game of his
match with Fink on the Crescent Ath-
letic Club courts, where the tournament
has been in progress all week. Coward
developed unshakable control and a
wnirlwind pace that fairly overwhelmed
Fink. who is sixth in national rating,
The Yale mans getting was sensational
and he smashed with such terrific
rover that Fink time and again could
not set himself in time for a return.
The latter was not off stroke in the
least but his best shots We're sent back
with surprising regularity and with
astonishing speed that forced him more
or less on the defensive.
Toward the end Fink was very tired
as the result OF the dazzling pace but
fighting hard for every point. Coward,
on the other hand. seemed to be gain
ing power with every stroke and the
result was inevitable. In the last two
games Fink was outscored 30 points to
II. but the majority OF the points were
won and lost after spectacular rallies
that kept the gallery on edge. 1t was
the fastest squash thus far in the
tournament
Coward'S best shot was a straight
powerful drive to the front wall that
his opponent could not turn around
fast enough to meet, so swiftly did the
ball travel to the rear wall and back
again. Fink hit hard all through the
contest. but Coward hit much harder
and tine latter's recoveries were more
astonishing. Coward could not seem to
miss anything after the opening game.
In the second and third divisions OF
the match he drove the ball just once
into the telltale. On the other hand,
he earned 20 Of his 20 points on place
ments. in which speed of stroke was
the factor.
The victory brought Coward into the
semi-final round. in which he is to meet
Anderson Dana OF the Harvard Club
tomorrow. In the other semi-final
Auguste J. Cordicr of the Yale Club,
last years national champion. and
Charles VI. Bull. Jr., OF the Crescent
Athletic Club are the survivors. Dana,
Bull and Cordier won their matches
in straight games. all three holding
fairly comfortable leads all the way.
The summary:
National Squash Tennis Associations Win
ter Scratch Tournament.--Thi-d Round--Fred
s. whitl7.k. Harvard Club, defeated George
Martin. Yale Club, won from W. +. Robin
son, Harvard Club. by default.
Fourth Round-Anderson Dana. Harvard
Club, defeated Hewitt Morgan, Harvard
Club, defeated r. Earl Fink. Crescent Ath-
letic Club, 12-15, 15--4. i5-7; Charles M.
Bull, Jr.. Crescent Athletic Club. defeated
clyde Martin. Yale Club, 1b-i0,. l5-3: Au,
s. whitlock. Harvard Club, i5-7. 15-4.
The point score OF the feature match
follows;
FIRST GAME.
Coward. oo3e1ooo2o x-1c
L. Fink. oO0024 00foo22 90 3-16
SECOND GAME.
Coward . ooTof otos lis
Fink. ........... OIL . o q o o 7 O.
THIRD GAME.
Coward. O10ooo42c1 01o01 2-1t
rink 49,. 1o001010i02O o00ox-
POINT ANALYSIS.
Place Tell
ments. tales. Outs Misses. s.A.