Spirited polo match

Press, 29 March 1980, Page 60

Spirited polo match

Ashburton A overcame a spirited and determined Ashley team to win its opening match of the South Island polo championships at Ryans Road yesterday. Although it finally won, 9-3, Ashburton had to struggle hard in the early part of the six-chukka match. At one stage, Ashley led. 3-1, in the third chukka. Ashley made a fine beginning, scoring twice through Roddy Wood in the first chukka. Wood’s first goal was a particularly fine effort, scoring from an acute

angle to the left of the posts.

I Four goals in the fourth and fifth chukkas enabled Ashburton to surge clear and win comfortably. Ashley’s chances were not helped by an injury to Warren Wells, who had to be replaced at the start of the fifth spell. The match was marred by several stoppages and lasted over an hour and a half.

The most outstanding performance of the day came, from the Amuri B team, which beat Waimate, 5-4, after a sudden death chukka,

despite conceding two goals to Waimate on handicap ratings. However, all first-day games were played off the ■ stick. Amuri’s team of Hamish Roxburg, Rob Jamieson, Andy Barker and Colin Clark full)’ deserved the win and will now meet Ashburton' A today. The biggest win yesterday was that of Taieri A which thrashed Amuri C, 10-1. Yesterday’s- results: Blenheim B 8, Taieri B 2; Taieri A 10, Amuri C 1; Amuri B 5, Waimate 4; Ashburton A 9, Ashley 3.