POLO.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13683, 17 March 1910, Page 8

POLO.

SAVILE CUP TOUIvNAMEXT.

Tne polo tournament was continued on the Christchurch Polo Club's ground, Hagley Park yeeterdav, when tho first of the handicap Latches" was >■£«*. »• *?*%£& teams being Christchurch B (22 goals handicap) Mid Hawarden (18 goals"-, 'ibe weather again beautifully fine and there wi n absence of the bitterly cold east "»«* whiefc prevailed on the previous day. In »«»»«,- noon the final for the Savile Cup.was played between H*wko's Bay and the C_n_tc_uix.h A teams, the former proving tho winners, and heat of tne handicap was decided between the Pareora and Tipapa teamß. Alan Strang and E. D. 0"Rorko ,ere u_p?res and Mr _. L. P. Free timekeeper ior all three matches. The final for the Savile Cup was, of course th. principal attraction of. we day, and it drew a large attendance, including a large number of ladies. Hawke's Bay were decided favourites, and most polo enthusiasts anticipated that they* would have no diftculty in retaining the cup. At the outset the, local players flattered their supporters that they were going to make a good fight of it "as almost as soon os the game started they rushed the ball to their nv_l. line and Alister Clark placed a goal to their credit This must have been a bit of a surprise for the -Jorth Islanders, but tney quickly got into their stride, and from thence to the finish Christchurch never had a look in. The third spell was evenly contested, each side narrowly missing a score on more than one occasion but no goals were hit. The other five spells were greatly in favour of Hawke's Bay, who "-cored three goals in each of the first, second, fifth and sixth spells, and two in the fourth, while Christchurch failed to add to their initial goal, the visitors thus winning by 14 goals to 1. Tho winners showed to great advantage both individually and collectively, their combination being greatly superior to that of the local men. Ormond and "Nelson -yore both very prominent, and secured the majority of tho goals between them, while Russell also made some good runs, and McKenzie, besides being sound in defence as goalkeeper, mado some dashing runs, scoring three times in tho last two bouts. Che team exhibited great cleverness in riding their opnonents off, and as they backed each other up well they nearly always got the ball. Their hitting was also safer than that of the Christchurch men's, their backhanded strokes being very good, and on the whole they were better mounted than their rivals. For the losers Ut. Maitland, at back, did a lot of useful defensive work, and but for his good play the score against his Bide would probably have been much larger. Alister Clark and Cowlishaw made some good runs, but in most instances they were ridden off the line of tho ball before their individual efforts could bear fruit. The handicap matches call for but little comment. In the game between Hawarden and Christchurch B. the former always held the upper hand, and their win was well deserved, Fritz Fox and G. _. Rutherford in particular showing good form for them, while Dr. Fox's hard work for tho losers .leserved to meet with better success, but want of combination throughout led to tho team's disaster. Tho second Handicap Cup match tetween Pareora and Tipapa was not a very interesting one to watch, especially coming after such a display as that given by Hawke's _ay. Pareora had to concede their antagonists 10 goals, but they gave such a poor display during the first half, that rt the end of the first spell they had only wiped off 3 of their handicap. After halftime they pulled themselves together, and during the last half they added 11 goals *.o their total, and thus won by 26 goals 'o 22, Tipapa failing to score. Detail*:—■

SAVILE CUP. FINAL. HAWKE'S BAY v. CHRISTCHTJRCH. The following wore the teams: — Christchurch {Reds)—J. D. Rail, Alister Clark, T. L. Cowlishaw, and Dr. A. G. Maitland. Hawke's Bay (Whites)—-J. D. Ormond, O. Nelson, H. A. Kuasell, and W. C. A. McKenzie. As soon as the ball was set in motion Christchurch took the play to the White's quarters, and Alister Clark opened the score by hitting a goal for them. Hawke's Bay quickly equalised the score, and then Ormond secured a second goal for them. Very fast play followed, the Whites generally having tho better of it, and after several fruitless snots Nelson succeeded in hitting the third goal for the North Islanders. No further scoring took place before the spell ended, Hawke's Bay having 3 goals and Christchurch 1. On resuming the Whites soon became aggressive, and Ormond shot a goal for them. Each side then attacked in turn, and the visitors narrowly missed sooring on two occasions, and then Ormond carried the ball up to the Hods' goal line, and Nelson hit it through. The Whites continued to have the better of the play, and the spell was brought to a close by Russell scoring for them. Hawke's Bay 6 goals, Christchurch 1. The third term was started by Nelson making ft fine run up the ground, and hitting the ball over the line. Good play by Cowlishaw and Clark shifted the scene of operations to the other end, and the latter had hard luck at goal, the ball striking the post and rebounding into play. Neither side could claim much of an advantage for the next few minutes, but then tho Whites got on a fine rush, and McKenzie just missed a goal, time being announced just afterwards. The opening of the fourth spell caw Christohurch on the attack, but Nelson broke away and scored with a long stroke. The Whites soon had their opponents is difficulties, Ormond carrying the ball up the field, and when ridden off by Cowlishaw, Nelson got possession and' sooredi another goal. A fine run and long hit by Cowlishaw nearly resulted in a fccore, the ball going a little wide, and then a combined Christohurch rush saw Clark hit over the line close to the posts. Fast, even play followed until the bell went. Scores— Hawke's Bay 8, Christchurch 1. The fifth term opened with the Whites on the attack, but the position wins soon rcrversed, end a behind was recorded. Hawke's Bay quickly asserted themselves, and Ormond then a?ai'i asserted themselves, and Nelson shot the ninth goal, for the Northerners. Runs by Cowlishaw and kelson for their respective sides caused behinds to bo registered. The Reds were awarded a free hit, and Cowlishaw had a fruitless shot at goal, snd for a few minutes the visitors were on the defensive. A combined rush by the Whites removed tho danger, and Mc-I-enzie scored twice in rapid succession, tho spell concluding a -minute later with the aoore—Hawke's Bay 11, Christchurch 1. Even play in mid-field was witnessed at tho 6tart of the final spell, but Hawke's Bay quickly asserted tbcmelves, and Ormond veered for them. Resuming, Christchurch invaded their opponents' quarters, and Cowlishaw had a fruitless shot at goal. Hawke's Bay then got on a rush, which ended in Nelson scoring. McKenzie made a pood -run, and had a oouple of shots at goal, the second one sending the ball between the posts The Whites wore quickly «v the attack again, but there was no further scoring. Hawke's Bay won by 11 goals to 1, and they thus retain the Cup. HANDICAP CUP. HAWARDEN (18) v CHRISTCHURCH B (22). The following were the teams:— Hawarden (Whites)—G. L. Rutherford, H. T. Little, C. O. T. Rutherford, and Fritz Fox. Christchurch (Reds)— Dr. P. Jones, Dr. Fox, A. E. Allen, and J. L. Carl. For somo time after the start the piny -was of an even character, first one side and then the other being called upon to defend their goals. Dr. Fox made some good tushes for the Reds, and Little was most conspicuous for the Whites, but neither received much support from their confreres, and the advantage gained was thuß soon lost. Just on tho call of time Hawarden got on a good rush, and Fritz Fox hit a goal for the \-isitors, the spell ending—Christchurch 22 goals (including handicap), Hawarden 19. The second spell was a repetition of the first, several good individual efforts being made, but tho teams lacked combination, and it was not until the end of the spell that a score was obtained, G. L. Rutherford hitting a second goal for the Whites. The third term opened with Hawarden attacking, and a behind was recorded against Christchurch. A shot by C. Rutherford went a little wide of the mark, and then Jones headed a Bed rush to tho Whites' goal line, G. Rutherford and Little being prominent in talcing the ball back. The Whites were awarded a penalty, and Fritz Fox hit a goal for them, and "just on the call of time he scored another goal, thus equalising the scores, which at half time were 22 all. On continuing, the loco! team were at once called upon to defend their stronghold, and after some exciting play Fritz Fox narrowly missed shooting a goal. After tha hit. cut Christchurch rushed the ball down the field, aiid a behind was recorded against the Whites. The latter returned, but Dr. Fox headed another rush by the Reds, the hail again being, hit over the Hawardpn line Christchurch were quickly on the defensive again, but there was no score before the spell ended. Early in tho fifth term the Whites made a tstrong attack, and after they had gained a behind G. L. Rutherford hit a goal for them, thu.3 giving the country team the lead. Hawarden continued to have the better of the play. A fine rush by Little ended in his hitting » poster. A good combined mn by the Reds then carried the ball up tho field, and Allen agiin equalised the score by hitting the first goal for Christchurch. The Whites made another attack, and just on time Littio hit a goal for them, making the scores—Hawarden 24 goals. Christchurch 23. Shortly after the commencement of the final bout Hawarden invaded their opponents' quarters, and Fritz Fox secured a goal. The Whites continued to attack, and C. Rutherford lost a capital chance of scoring. A moment later G. L. Rutherford had a fruitless shot at goal, and then Little hit tho ball over the line. The Reds momentarily relieved, bat G. L. Rutherford responded with a fine run, and hit another goal for Hawarden. Just before time wm up C. Rutherford

hit still another goal for the Whites, and tho game ended:—Hawarden (including handicap) 27 goals, Chxistchuich 23. PAREORA (12) v TIPAPA (—). Tho teams were:— Pareora {Reds}—H. E. Elworthy. P. A. Elworthy, J. C. Miller and A. S. Elworthy. Tipapa—S. Tmvncnd. R. Allan, F. Townend, mud H. Actcn-Ada_s-Pareora were the first to attack, and although they had considerably the better of the play, the spell ended without either aide having scored. In the second term the Reds continued to press their rivals, and A. Elworthy hit the initial goal for them. Pareora kept tho ball for the most part in their opponents' quarter, but they did *ot make the best use of the many chances they had, and it was close on time before H. E. El worthy scored their second goa:. Scores: Pareora 14 goals (including handicap). Tipapa 22. In tho third spt?ll the bail was rarely out of the White's quarters, but there was no addition to th© score until a couple of minutes before the bell went, when H. Elworthy hit a goal for the Reds. In the fourth bout Tipapa were called -.pon to defend their goal for a long time, and towards the close of the spell H. E. and A. Elworthy hit goals in rapid succession. The latter quick'.y added another goal to his team's credit, the last three goals having been hit in as many minutes. "Scores: — Pareora 18 goals, Tipapa 22. Soon after tho fifth spell started A. Elworthy got possession of the ball at the centre, and after a fine run ho scored from a long lit. The Reds quickly had the Whites on the defensive again, and H. Elworthy secured another goal for them. Pareora still attacked, and A. Elworthy further increased their score by hitting another goal, end the epe'l ended with H. Elworthy equalising tho 1 scores by hitting a further goal, the totals being 22 goals each. As soon as the final spell started Pareora rushed tho bull into thoir opponents' quarters, and Miller hit a goal, giving the South Canterbury team the lead. The Rods continued to press their opponents, and A. Elworthy, P. Elworthy. and Miller each hit a goal The Whites then momentarily attacked, and Allan bad a shot at goal which missed, and the.•oil went, the final score being—Pareora 26 coals (including 12 goals handicap) Tipap*

The tournament will be continued to-doy, v.-hen Christchurch A (10 goals) meets PareoTa (12 goals), and Hawko's Bay (scr) try conclusions with Hawarden (13 goals).