The New York herald., 1922-02-10
SQUASH CHAMPION
WINS BY A STROKE
f.. Van s. Hyde Has Narrow
Escape in Match With
T. r. Coward.
by SAMUEL J. BRooKMAN.

AS close to defeat as il is possible
20 be at squash tennis--just that close
was Fillmore Van S. Hyde, national
champion. to a setback at the hands OF
Thomas X. Coward of the Yale Club at
the Crescent Athletic Club yesterday.
In what proved TO be the final hand OF
the final game of brilliant exhi-
bition Coward needed just one moro
point for victory. He made great
bid for il too but Hyde. in dazzling
rally made a still greater recovery OF a
shot that appeared hopelessly out OF his
reach.
1t was the champions turn to serve.
with, the score 1915 in favor of his
rival. One short but swift exchange re-
suited in A telltale by Coward that
brought the score to 16 all. Then an
exciting rally for the final point. Two
returns and Hyde raced to the forward
court to met the ball He put all his
strength into a powerful smash that
bounded off the front wall almost di-
rectly at him. He ducked in time, how
ever. and the ball struck Coward for the
point that meant victory.
Three times before in that final game
of the tussle Hyde had been turned back
when he needed just one decisive point.
Holding on teuaciously, Coward not
only had fought off defeat but had over
come lead OF three aces and had
moved out In front himself Those clos
ing moments of the contest had the
gallery on edge with excitement. A
good deal depended on the result. for
the match was TO decide the team cham
pionship of the metropolitan district, and
was to decide also whether Coward, who
had been toppling over most of the con-
tenders this season. was to threaten the
champion seriously in the national
tournament next week. The match
was to have been held last week when
in the playoff of tie for the team title
the Yale Club and Harvard Club teams
again tied at 2 all. Both Hyde and
| Coward were i'll on that occasion and
their contest had to he put off
Monopoly on Tiles.
The victory gives Harvard Club all
the titles that have been competed for
so far this season. including the indi-
vidual national Class B championship.
and the metropolitan team titles in
Glasses and b. Only the national
open championship remains and Hyde
naturally is. favored for that title
1t looked like an easy triumph for
Hyde early in yesterdays match He
showed marked superiority In the first
game, outmaneuverinR the Yale man
and earning most OF his points on de-
cisive placements. With his long reach
and his remarkable anticipation Hyde
made difficult shots look simple enough
and his own change of pace had Coward
baffied.
In the second game too the champion
went out into a lead OF 10 in a hurry
and then with the victory apparently for
the asking made the mistake of letting
down in his attack The error almost
proved disastrous Just about that time
Coward decided that il was up 20 him to
redouble his efforts and increase the
speed OF his shots. and before he real
ized 1t the champion found himself on
the defensive
Depending almost entirely on terrific
! straight smash 10 the front wall and
racing all over the court for sparkling
recoveries. Coward quickly caught up
with his opponent and passed him.
Hyde. forced 10 hurry his strokes. sent
stroke after stroke into the telltale and
his errors enabled Coward to hold his
| advantage. Toward the close OF the
game Hyde spurted and drew even at
| 13 all but Coward took the game at
1s-It.
Champion Rallies.
For four hands in the final game Hyde
did rot tally point. while Coward
counted five. The champions control
was still very uncertain but he steaded
in time fortunately and slowly but
surely overhauled his opponent. How
the lead shifted In the last few hands
has been told. The point score and
analysis follow:
FIRST GAME
Hyde. ....... q q o I liz
~ n "A
Place Tell Service
ments. tales. Outs. Aces. Misses
coward cgss a.. 'S . ; . Q
SECOND GAME.
Coward. 8 Sio@oi 90 o4os lis
Place Tell Service
ments. tales. Outs Aces Misses
GSSsrd 1iySs 49, w y . 9 .
THIRD GAME.
oooo2o
Coward
oo32oooioOiO
Place. Tell Service
ments. tales. outs. Aces. Misses.