South’s polo again

Press, 13 November 1981, Page 8

South’s polo again

The South Island team will be confident of success in today’s polo match against the North Island for the Hagley Trophy after its 8-4 win in the second of the Thibenzole sponsored series yesterday. The teams were:— North Island: Douglas Duncan (1), Gary Sherratt (2), Warner Wilder (3). South Island: Denis O’Sullivan (1), Alan Calder (2), Roddy Wood (3). South won the first game on Wednesday by an identical score, but yesterday it showed admirable fighting spirit after being down 0-2 at the end of the first chukka. The first chukka was one of the best over the two days, both teams riding furiously and play was fast. North applied early pressure and was rewarded after its experienced . captain, Wilder, drove through and finished off with an accurate shot. North’s second goal in the chukka also came from Wilder who controlled the ball perfectly and followed it through the pylons. Apart from a long hit that just missed from O’Sullivan, South had few scoring chances and North displayed the better teamwork. However, South started the second chukka much more purposefully. Calder set up Wood for a shot and the South Island No. 3 made no mistake. Calder scored the equaliser when he met a hit out from North and although his goal shot hit a pylon, the experienced Amuri player pivoted swiftly on his pony and was first to regain possession. Calder, a force with much more influence than on the first day, continued to dictate terms and a desperate ■ clearance by Wilder on the »line prevented South taking the lead.

Near the end of the second chukka, Wilder broke away but received a bad bounce. However it made little difference as Duncan was in position and had an easy shot to give North the lead at half-time, 3-2. Duncan missed two royal opportunities to increase North’s lead early in the third chukka and South scored first through an opengoal 30 yard penalty by Wood. With Calder again the central figure, South took the lead for the first time when O’Sullivan cleverly rode off his marker and was successful with a backhand shot. Starting the final chukka,

South led 4-3 but it soon had the match in safekeeping through goals from Calder and Wood. The South was combining much better in the final chukkas and the North defence was thrown in disarray although Wilder never stopped riding robustly and aggressively. Wood scored his fourth goal with a sweetly-timed long shot and South had its eighth when O’Sullivan rode off Wilder and Calder was first to the loose ball. North had the final say m the last minute when Wilder scored a solo goal, but at that stage it was mere consolation.