The New York herald., 1922-01-27
Harvard Club LOOSenS
Hold on Squash Title
Yale Club Moves Up to Tic
When T.. Platt Beats
j. w. Appel.
BY SAMUEL J. BRooKMAN.

On a single point on a single stroke.
hinged the metropolitan squash tennis
championship yesterday. The all i'm
portant moment of seasons play, and
the crowd that damned every point Of
vantage on the Yale Club gallery sensed
the fact and was tense with subdued ex-
element. On the court below Livingston
Plat OF the Yale Club poised to serve
to John w. Appel of the Harvard Club.
national champion OF 1919. He had just
overcome a lead Of two points and had
brought the final game of the deciding
match to score OF II all.
Appel had plenty OF time to set him
self for The return. He swung his
racquet around in a full sweep. but in
his over anxiety stroked too high and too
powerfully. The ball shot to the front
wall and in another fraction Of second
had rebourded and hit over the "out"
lire OF the back wall and the final point
of as exciting match as has been
played this winter had been won and
lost. Thus Harvard Club met its first
defeat of the season in the tournament
and instead OF clinching its hold on the
title Is now tied with Yale Club at seven
matches won and one lost. An extra
series between the leaders viii now have
to be contested to settle the ownership
Of the championship cup and title.
Before Platt and Appel took the court
Harvard and Yale clubs had divided four
matches evenly. 80 tfat II was up TO the
participants in the final tusslc. Appel
rates higher than Platt. but the latter
has been playing surprisingly weh all
season. having extended the best of
them. and II was a tossup as TO who
would be the winner The contest GER
tainly lived up to expectations. It was
hard hitting squash all the way, but not
at the expensc of skillful play on both
sides. The tide cbbed and flowed con-
tinually. with the rallies long and the
stroking varied.
Appel Rallies.
Platt took the first game rather dcci-
sively and led. TO 3, in the second before
Appel finally found himself and drew up
to even terms. Early in the match
Appel. noting the speed OF Platt's smash.
venturcd too far up the forward court
and found himself caught out OF posi-
tion time and again. As the match adj
vanced. however, Appel began handling
Platts hardest shots with better judg-
r,ent and steadied remarkably. P1att
not only lost his lead OF Pour points in
the second game but was beaten by five,
15---10.
In the final game Plstt again went
out lntO lcdu OF ~ 10 ". pEN Appti
rallied and moved up TO fS---fl. Then
II wss nip and tuck the reet of the way
After Platt had ''eet" the game IT 10
all Appel drew into q lead OF fT--16
and was five times within a point Of
the match. only TO fan. Platt hung on
tenaciously. finally drow even AZ ~ all
on a service ace and ellnched the VIC
tory on the next service.
Fillmore Van s. Hyde Of tho Harvard
Club. national champion, played az well
"a ever In his career. defeating Thomas
Coward In one OF the carly matches.
Coward, who has swept all before him
this season, was batfled by Hyde's
change OF pace. his wonderful position
play and unshakabie control HYDE did
not score o point until the ninth hand
Of the first game. starting very leisurely.
but he warmed up TO his work after
that. tailed nine aces In two hands and
went far into the lead Coward had n
world OF speed butN Hyde. without hair
an much exertlon. earned his pointh In
masterful style. His stroke was always
smooth and under excellent control and
his assortment OF shots was puzxlinS.
Ausustc J. Cordier nationel charm
plon Of 1920. astonished by defeating
Anderson Dana, one OF tho too ranking
PLAYERS In the country, With the lcss or