Evening star., 1940-08-11
Strategy and Strokes
Mastery in Defeat
Of Smith, Murphy
Big Borney's WhirIwind
Attack in Second Set
Is Deciding Factor
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

ny AL w Az u A Il SAAAo0A'
With the same brusque technique
of a couple of parlor maids tidying
up the room, Barny Welsh and
Dooley Mitchell brushed off C.
Alphonso Smith ard Dick Murphy
in straight sets yesterday at Edge
moor Club to retain their mems
District doubles tennis title.
The match figures, 6-1, Ga, 60,
sum up eloquently the story of
the afternoons play. No op-
position for the champs in the first
set: the victims game but futile
rally in the second, and mopping up
exercises in the third. You couldn't
have stopped them with a court in
junction. Every strategic move was
as keen as a freshly honed razor
and their shots straight as a dye.
The victory ended Mitchell's tour
nament appearances for the season
but Welsh goes backd for more this
afternoon. He's pittec against Hugh
Lynch for the singles title at
o'clock, and is a prohibitive favorite
to win. Lynch, despite brilliant
victory over Jimmy .Farrin in the
quarter finals and upset triumph
over Davey johnson in Semi-flnals,
appears to have no chance at all
with Welsh's game at the boiling
point.
Barney Turns Tide.
Big Barney'S raquet was the blunt
instrument that turned the tide of
battle yesterday 1t was in the
second set, Welsh and Mitchell lead
ing in games, 2-1 and their op-
ponents ahead in the fourth game,
40 is, when Welsh uncorked a
series of blistering shots that rained
like buckshot on his hapless op-
ponents, turning apparent victory
into defeat. Smith and Murphy
never recovered completely from the
shock.
1t was an interesting match to
watch and time and again brilliant
shots drew appreciative outbursts
of applause from the small gallery.
Barney and Dooley forced the
action from the outset, covering the
net thoroughly, probing their op-
ponents' defense for weak spots and
spanking points through when they
appeared.
In Smiths own words he and his
partner never got started" The
victors drew the pattern of battle
to suit themselves. The losers re-
sorted to every conceivable maneuvel
in vain attempt to stem the tide
They batted pop flies to the back
court, bunted short, angular shots
to the sidecourt and tried heavy
artillery, but were unable to pierce
their rivals sturdy defense.
Welsh Reaches High.
Welsh's raquet seemed to sweep
the clouds above the court as he
smashed laundering overhands deer
into the backcourt. Mitchell pattec
cross-court balls as delicately as a
lady tanning herself. Together they
played ordinary shots as carefully
as chess players, planning the kill
several shots in advance. Seldom
did they guess wrong or make the
incorrect move.
Mitchell's steadiness deserted him
momentarlly in the second set anC
permitted the enemy to square tn
match at 4-au. Twice he double
faulted with palsied shots that
brought the score to As. Then he
banged couple of returns into the
net which gave Murphy Co. another
game and put them on even terms
But whe tever hope the eventual
losers had of sneaking the fat out
of the fire quickly and thoroughly
was diSpelled when Welsh ignited
a series of cannon-crackers on their
side of the net and Mitchell re-
gained control of his jumphy game
After their f1awless play against
johnson and Lynch in the semi
finals the Smith Murphy duo was
conceded an excellent chance in the
final. Many thought their steady
stroking and unerring returns would
dethrone the title-holders But
alas, their individual and collective
games were nowhere near Fridays
high mark. Evidently they usec
their best tennis to reach the
championship round and hac
nothing left to further the drive.