Polo revenge sought

Press, 10 November 1981, Page 28

Polo revenge sought

A Central Districts team will represent the North Island against the South Island in the Thibenzole polo series tomorrow, on Thursday and Friday. The North Island side of Douglas Duncan (Rangitikei), Gary Sherratt (Hawke’s Bay) and Warner Wilder (Wanstead), will be keen to avenge its three-match loss last year.

After losing on the first two days, the North Island showed improved form on the final day when the Hagley trophy was a stake. It-led 3-0 before the South Island found its combinations and recovered to win 7-4.

Two of last year’s winning South Island members, Alan Calder (Amuri) and Roddy Wood (Ashley), will be in action again and they will be

joined by Denis O’Sullivan (Ashburton). The missing man is John Askin, a strongriding Ashburton player who has played in the tournament for 15 years. However, Calder is also a very experienced player and he will play at No. 2, a good linking position. He will be relied on to help create scoring chances for the No. 1, O’Sullivan, and assist Wood on defence.

Calder has recently returned from a sponsored trip to the Western Australian Show where he teamed with Askin and Emmett O’Sullivan in a series similar to that at the Canterbury Show. The South Island team lost the final by one goal in an extra chukka.

For the North Island, Wilder, the No. 3, is the most tightly handicapped player in the series with a goal rating of five. He is a seasoned player who has had overseas experience. Douglas is from a prominent polo playing family and Sherratt will be following in the footsteps of a cousin who was in the northern team several years ago.

The series should be very even as both teams have similar handicaps. The North Island has a rating of eight, the South Island one of seven.

Wednesday’s match will start at 4 p.m. and the matches on Thursday and Friday will begin at 3 p.m.