Evening star., 1938-09-25
HUNTS NET RALLY
TROUNCES WELSH
Beaten OFF Early, Gill Wins
Last Three Sets to Get
Unofficial D. c. Crown.
BY BILL DISMER. Jr.

A magnificent comeback by Gil
Hunt, when he was within two games
OF being licked in straight sets by
Barney Welsh, elevated him to the
unofhcial District tennis throne yes
terday when he out-lasted the five-
time local champion in five hard sets
at the Edgemoor Club. The scores
were 81. 2-6, SIS, 6-1. 6-.
Attracted by the greatest natural"
local tennis can produce, more than
800 spectators laid it on the line tn
be IN on the downfall Of the lanky
Rockville Rambler who had reigned
undisputedly over local nets since
1882.
Although the match-billed as an
exhibition sanctioned by the Middle
Atlantic Tennis Association and spon-
sored by the d. c. T. A.-carried no
Official bearing, it was satisfying to
Capital net followers who had yearned
in vain for Hunt-Welsh match for
several seasons. 1t was the first time
that Hunt ever had triumphed over
Welsh, who held five decisions over
the local lad who catapulted into
national fame fortnight ago by beat
ing Bobby Riggs.
Hunt Indifferent at Start.
For the first three sets, Hunt played
typically Hunt tennis-dissipatin
leads Of to in both the FIRST and
third encounters with obvious indiffer-
ence to set the stage for an apparent
Welsh triumph in minimum time. But
with defeat staring him in the face
as Welsh began to serve with the score
tied at 6-6 in the third set, Hunt
suddenly began TO play inspired tennis
and from then on it was all Hunt.
His volleying, deadly all day. oe-
came crisper and he forced Welsh into
three straight errors for love-40. A
placement then completed Hunts
break through service for a 7-to-6
lead in games and with the score at
deuce in the l4th game. Hunt twice
passed his foe to win his first set.
The l0-minute intermission seemed
to aid Gil more than Barney, for the
guy they said couldn't play on any,
thing but grass courts returned appar-
emily more refreshed and quickly ran
up a Al lead in the fourth set.
Realizing his plight and anxious to
conserve his energy for the all-impor-
tant fifth set, Welsh delibera tely
threw the sixth and seventh games 10
place his challenger on even terms.
Sizzling Final Match.
Here, at last, was the ultimate for
District tennis fans. Welsh and Hunt
all-even in flve-set match and ready
to start the fifth set. And if any
expectation of great tennis from
set ever was justified it was in that
deciding encounter yesterday.
Long rallies, with each racing far
and wide for remarkable gets" evoked
almost continuous applause from the
gallery bounding the court on three
sides until the crowd became nearly
as uproarious as tennis crowds can
become.
The start Of the deciding set was
most encoursg ging for Welsh sup
porters for the Rambler got of to a
81 lead by breaking Hunts service
in the second game The turning
point came in the fifth game when a
five-time deuced fray finally ended
in Hunts favor when Welsh hit two
outside. Although Welsh won the
next game to make it 40. it was
apparent that the long game had
taken an excess of energy, for his
drives were losing their sting and he
wasn't getting to Hunts as quickly as
he had
Hunts Drop Tells.
Holding Welsh to four points in the
next two games, Hunt evened the
count at 4-all and then took his own
service at love for precious 5-4 lead
Barney won the first point in the
final game, but then pushed three
backhands and a forehand into the
net for the match.
If any one factor was responsible
for the result it was Hunts superior
physical condition plus a superb use
of the drop-shot. He was running
Welsh ragged all day and while Bar
ney also relied on the shot-teaser to
great extent it didn't worry Hunt
as much as it did the loser.
Hunt had a 60 per cent effective
ness with his service, winning with
it IS out of Is times. Welsh won
tvice more on his service than he
lost, IA times winning and IL times
losing. Although the margin point
score In each set was not unusually
close. Hunt made only 5 more points
throughout the match than Welsh.
Point Card of Match.
The game-score and recapitulation
follow:
Welsh 443711 -3-7