POLO SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 95, 24 April 1939, Page 15

POLO SEASON.

THRILLS AT OTAHUHU. CAMBRIDGE BEATS MATANGI. DRURY RETAINS AUCKLAND CUP. Polo champione in action at the Otahuhu field on Saturday treated the big crowd, which attended in spite of the pouring rain, to the best exposition of the sport ever seen in Auckland. The Cambridge team were the heroes,of the day, turning the tables on Matangi, who defeated them in the provincial champicnehips at Claudelande this week. Superbly mounted, they rode their horses full out and handled the ball wonderfully well, considering the elippery conditions. In the match for the Hull Kinloch Cup, for competition among tcame affiliated to the Auckland Polo Club, the holders, Drury, prevailed againet a strong challenge by Papatoetoe, who were the previous champione.

Harold Brookes played an-outstanding game for Drury, scoring two goals. His positional play and hard, clean hitting were deciding factors in the game. When the final bell rang the score was two goals all, but the game went on after the bell and Len Robineoa hit a goal for Drury. There was eome doubt as to whether this goal -would be allowed and whether the game was a win for Drury or a draw, but in any case Drury holds the cup till next season. The other game between local teams resulted in a victory for Otahuhu over The captain of the winning side. Alex McCorqnindale. wae at the top of hie form, as his personal tally of three goals indicates. Hie team won by 7 goals to 2.

Cambridge, former Xew Zealand champions, won nil the way against Mataiigi, and the final score was 4 goals to 1. George Peake, who was the star of the Xew Zealand, representative side which defeated Australia's best to win the gold cup last year, played a fine game for the losing team, and his goal was the climax of a remarkable gallop half the length of the field. The Cambridge Xo. 2. R. Hannon. was always to the fore in attack, and his efforts were capped by two goals.

Two other erack Waikato teams, Glenmurray and Morrineville, ga.ve a fast and thrilling exhibition, the latter aide prevailing by 7 goals to-2. F- KlaUfcJElliot and T. Mellows each scored twt goals for Cambridge. During an interval in the afternoon the mayoress, Lady Davis, presented the trophies won during the eeaaoa, 4nd congratulated the players on the progress made einee the sport was revived is Auckland this season after a lapse of about 30 yeare. On behalf of the Drury team the emptain, W. Pugh, received the Hull Kinloch Cup. The cup for the champion ladies' side, donated by Lady Davis, »as presented to the captain, Miss Peggy Sawle, and for the men's team scoring the most pointe in the season, Alex McCorquindale. of Otahuhu, accepted the special trophy. The trophy for the most improved lady player was awarded to Mfcs Sawle, and that for the most improved man player to Laurie Davis, of the Otahuhu team.