Draw in final polo match—and series

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 24

Draw in final polo match—and series

In a fitting conclusion to the three-match polo series for the Hagley Trophy, the North and South Island teams drew, four goals each, in an exciting, fast-moving game at the Royal Show yesterday. The teams were evenly matched, each attacking whenever the opportunity arose, and each player riding his opponent hard. The result was particularly pleasing after the 6-3 win by North on Wednesday, and South’s retaliatory victory on Thursday with a crushing 7-0 score. Even if time had permitted a fifth and decisive chukka yesterday, few would have dared predict a winner. The match was played on a hard, dry, ground, in perfect weather, but the dust made conditions rather unpleasant for the players. Emmett O’Sullivan, playing his last game for several seasons was well to the fore, assisted by his fine mount, Belinda, later named the champion polo pony. The North team of Graham Brown, lan Gould, and Bruce McKelvie, went quickly on attack in the opening seconds of the game, taking the lead after only one minute when Brown scored a goal.

The Rangitikei players continued their aggressive polo without let-up, showing excellent teamwork. They scored their second goal five minutes later after Gould, executing a fine backhand stroke, swung the ball down for a well-positioned Brown to shoot between the pylons from 40 yards out The South — Alan Calder, John Askin, and O’Sullivan — responded well to North’s

challenge, winning a first goal when Calder achieved a very angled shot from underneath his pony’s tail to scoop the ball between the pylons. The score was then evened by superb teamwork from the South. O’Sullivan began the offensive with a shot from the half-way mark, which was followed up by Askin. McKelvie missed a defensive shot, but Askin again attempted to recover the advantage by following up with a long shot to the goal. When it was ob vious the ball would be wide, he spurred his pony on and, from a sharp angle, pushed the ball back to Calder who was well placed to score the fourth goal in the match. South went on to lead, 3-2, when O’Sullivan played a "million dollar’’ shot through his pony’s legs, while being ridden hard by his opponent. Although North failed to score when a penalty was awarded against South for crossing the line, it soon evened the tally after McKelvie successfully executed a difficult shot from the nearside of his pony’s tail. Brown scored his third goal with a well-struck shot that rewarded North’s determined attack. South valiantly tried to get back into the game, but another penalty was awarded against it when Askin crossed the line. The shot was direct and undefended, but McKelvie hit a little wide of the mark. The final score was reached in the fourth and last chukka after another exc e 11 e n t drive from O’Sullivan, but even in the

dying stages of the match North was on the attack again.