Evening star., 1940-08-08
Davey Eager 10 Give
Barney Chance for
Revenge Match
TitlehoIder Awuits Foe
After Being Extended
Three Sets by Smith
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

With Barney Welsh safely in the
final round as a result of his three
sets victory yesterday over C. AL
phonso Smith, all that remained to
complete the setting for his "grudge"
battle with Dayey johnson in Satur-
days final was a victory for the
latter today in his semifinal duel
with Hugh Lynch. johnson beat
Barney earlier in the season.
They had date at o'clock at
Edgemoor Club, but it promised to
be no tea party. David hasn't been
exactly a giant killer in the tourna-
ment, although 225-pound Bill
Breese is numbered among his VIC
TINS. Most of the critics thought
Lynch had a chance against him
and Hughie concurred in that
opinion. The Princeton alumnus
doesn't like the idea of being rele-
gated to the limbo of ousted players
until match is over, especially
when he has chance of winning.
Lynch No Easy Picking.
johnson has played well, but not
faultlessly, thus far and the hard
working, persistent Lynch shaped up
as formidable barrier in his path
to the final. johnson is 450
slugger in this league, but not a
deadly bunter or place hitter. Some
OF his shots can't be handled with
an asbestos racket and others figura-
lively tear through the webbing.
Yes, Davey has power in his Sling
shot and everybody knows it. But
they add that his opponents have
only to stand in one spot and John
sen will bang every ball squarely at
them and trust to his high explosive
power to get point. With Lynch, a
good ball hawk, on the other side of
the net, the theory figured to
undergo the acid test this afternoon,
But Lynch had good grounds for
his self-confidence. Last year in the
semifinals johnson took the first
set, IS, and assumed a SO lead
in the second set before Hugh rallied
and pulled the match out of the
fire. Lynch eventually won the
second cluster, IS, and the third,
Ga. Lynch. fine tactician, was
willing to pit his skill and cunning
against Johnsen's dynamite today
and host of supporters agreed it
could be Daveys undoing.
Welsh Has His Troubles.
Should johnson gain the cham
pionship round. however, he stands
about an even chance against Welsh.
who had trouble yesterday beating
of Smith. 1t easily was the most
exciting match manufactured in the
tournament and Barney had to go
all out to win. 1t, incidentally. was
the first time Smith has carried the
sparse Rockville ACE three sets in
four engagements.
Welsh took the first set, 60, but
dropped the second, ST, and was
pressed to win the third, Ga, as
Smith exerted himself to the ut
most. Smiths game is based on
deception. He hits no two shots
alike and manages to make a few
almost impossible returns that do
his opponents morale no good what
soever. Time and again he caught
Barney of balance or out of position
yesterday, especially in the second
set when he was at his best.
In doubles johnson and Lynch
disposed of Breese and Buddy Adair,
6-4, 60, while the Navy team of
Bill Howard and Jimmy Farrin
romped over Frank Shore and Ricky
Willis, 50, 81. The latter duo
was to face Welsh and Mitchell at
o'clock this afternoon in the second
Of two matches on a skinny pro-
gram.