Polo trophy to North

Press, 14 November 1981, Page 26

Polo trophy to North

Amid great excitement, the North Island scored the first goal in an extra chukka to beat the South Island, 6-5, in the final of the Thibenzole sponsored polo series yesterday.

South had won on the first two days quite convincingly, but yesterday’s match was the most important as the Hagley Trophy was at stake. It was the first time that officials could recall the score being level at the en'd of the scheduled four chukkas.

The pylons were widened for the start of the extra chukka and the winner was the team that scored first. From the throw-on on halfway, Dennis O’Sullivan got the break away for the South but the attack was halted and North drove back its experienced captain, Warner Wilder. Although Roddy Wood rode off Wilder, Douglas Duncan was in position to score for North. However, the whistle had sounded seconds before and it seemed that South might have had a lucky escape.

But the referee awarded a penalty to North right in front and Wilder, who scored five of the team’s six goals, only had to nudge the ball a few metres which he did successfully. The teams were: North Island: Douglas Duncan (1). Gary Sherratt (2). Warner Wilder (3). South Island: Dennis O'Sullivan (1), Alan Calder (2). Roddy Wood (3).

Apart from the fourth chukka. when both teams threw caution to the wind, play did not flow as freely as it had on the first two days- Both teams were intent on riding one another off the ball and this led to a large number of infringements and a lot of crossfield play. South opened the scoring with

a back-handed shot from an awkward angle by Calder but North soon equalised after Duncan hit a long blow and Wilder deflected it through from a melee. From the restart. Calder scored from another acutely angled shot and South led, 2-1. at the end of the first chukka. The second and third chukkas were scrappy with many missed clearances and the referee taking a harsh line on foul plav. At the end of the second chukka. North had taken the lead, 3-2. with Wilder adding both goals. O'Sullivan capitalised on a North defensive error to score from 60 yards and equalise early in the third chukka. but it was the outstanding player. Wilder, who gave North a 4-3 lead with a true hit from 100 yards. In the opening seconds of the fourth chukka. South equalised when Calder controlled the ball well and O’Sullivan scored with a good shot. North regained the lead when Sherratt scored his first goal of the series, latching on to a penalty hit awarded to his team. South did most of the attacking in the last chukka but failed to score until near the end when Sherratt, to his disbelief and disgust, scored for the opposition when under pressure on defence. Calder went very close to scoring in the final seconds of the chukka, but it was 5-5 at the end and it was North which got the goal that meant so much in the deciding chukka.