POLO TOURNAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 467, 27 March 1909, Page 5

POLO TOURNAMENT.

AT PALMERSTON NORTH. HAWKE'S BAY WINS THE SAVILE (nr TEDEGiurn-srEcui. cowiEsroNDENT.) Palmorston North, March 26. Tho finals for tho Savilo and Handicap cups were played at the Hokowhitu this afternoon. Thero was a.very largo attendance, including Lady Phinket and party, I whilst visitors wore also present from all parts of the district. , Tho ground was very dry, no rain to speak of having fallen for tho last two -months. At the western end play was frequently obstructed by tho clouds of dust that arose. Tho Battle for the Savilo Cup. : The first gamo was between Ilangitikei and Hawko's Bay for tho championship. Hawke's Bay, who have been in possession of the Cup since 1907, wero represented by J. D. Ormond, Q. Nelson, H. A. Russell, and Wi C A. M'Kenzio, and Rangitikei by G. H. Wilson,-K. Dalrymplc.H. White, and R. A. Wilson. Keen interest was taken in the fixture, tho chances of tho two teams being estimated to.be about equal, lie result, however, showed the holders to be much' too good for their opponents. Hawke s Bay attacked as soon as piny commenced, but Rangitikei wero equal to the occasion, and staved off tho repeated assaults on their lino. Play was exceedingly fast, and both teams wero playing well. Hawkes Bay, through tho agency of H. A. Russell, drew first blood. After about three minutes play, Ilangitikei made strong efforts to equalise matters, H. Wilson, in partioular, putting in- some good work, which resulted m Hawke's-Bay being forced down. Rangitikei continued to press their opponents, and the spell ended without further score, Rangitikei having much the best of it. In the second spell, Hawke's Bay got going from tho hit off, and, aided by a fast rush, Ormond put on their second goal. Give and take play followed, during which Hawke's Bay had a let off—a pony stopping what appeared to be a suro goal. Rangitikei wero forced in their turn, and Ormond, who was playing an excellent game,, scored •another goal shortly after the hit out. Hawke's' Bay had now taken, tho measure of their opponents, and wero having much the better of the game. Thanks to their particularly good combination, they maintained' th'c aggressive right through tho spell, thought Dalryraple and H. ■\\ ilson frequently relieved tho pressure with racing rushes down the field, their strokes, however, being indifferently directed. In tho third spell Rangitikei got way on first, and the holders of the .< cup wore forced down. Rangitikei, by bad shooting, failed to take advantage of several opportunities to score, and. Hawke's Bay, gotting rid of tho pressure, scored again at tho end of a oouplo of good strokes by Nelson and Ormond. Dalrymplc gat away,rfrom, the hit-off-' r and' took"''play"' right''"down the ground, where he xentred, White, who had followed up, missing a score by a couple of feet. They kept. up tho pressure,' and at last White put the ; ball between the posts from a melee in front of the Hawko's Bay goal.—Hawko's Bay 4 goals, Rangitikei i. . ■ ' ,; Tho fourth spell was a series of fast rushes, each side alternately attacking and defending. Variation was lent, however, by a oouplo of mishaps to White, whoso pony fell • twice, but no damage was done, and the spell ended without a score. . Tho fifth spell started in Rangitikei' territory,' and M'Kenzie narrowly escaped putting oh another goal, R. Wilson riding him off at the critical moment, and tho ball went wide a oouple of feet. The game "at this stago had slowed down a lot, all the ponies appearing to be a bit blown, whilst scoring had ceased altogether. The final spell soon saw Rangitikei three goals to the bad. After three minutes' play, H.- Wilson was,struck in the face by a club. It was a severe blow, 'and, after several minutes' dolay, his place was taken by W. Levin, who proved an efficient substitute. Whon play stopped, Hawke's Bay wafc within easy roach of the Rangitikei's line, and, on rosuming, Nelson oxpenenced no difficulty in putting on another goal. Levin got on an oxcellent rush, and took play down to tho Hawko's Bay's posts, where, from a melee, Dalrymple scored for Rniigitikei. Tho game ended shortly after, Hawke's Bay winning.

How Hawke's Bay Loarnod the Came. At tho conclusion, of tho game, tbo successful team paraded in front of,tho pavilion, whore Lady Plunket handed over tho cup to Mr. H. A. Russell, on behalf of the team In the course of his acknowledgment, Mr. Russell said that they owed a great deal of their polo ability, to tho Manawatu players, who, thirteen years ago, when they first sent a team to tho tournament, showed them how polo should bo played. Cheers wore then given for Lady Plunket, the teams, and tbo Alanawatii Club. parewanui Wins Handicap Cup. Parewanui (10) v. Hawko's Bay B (7). Parewanui was represented by L. M'Kclvie, N. Scott, J. M'lCelvie, and S. M'Konzie, and Hawke's Bay by C. Bennet, G. Pharazyn, P. M'Konzie, and A. H. Russell. _ Parewanui assumed the offensive from the hit-off in the first spell, and, within a minute, had put up a goal, They continued to prcss,__ and forced Hawko's Bay down, and J. M'Kclvie was tho next to distinguish himself by put-1 ting on a second goal for Parewanui. Hawke's Bay, so far, were not playing the game which they put up against Manawatu on tho previous day, and tho hard riding of their opponents seemed to disconcert them. However, as tho spell progressed, they got into their stride, and played bettor polo, forcing Parewanui down a couplo of times. Hawke's Bay continued to show better play in tho second spell, F. M'Konzie getting in some mighty smites, but they lacked direction, and. tho only result was to forco Parewanui. The latter saved excellently on more than ono occasion,'when a scoro seemed certain, the ball being almost botweon tho posts. The spell ended with the scoro—Parewanui, 12; Hawko's Bay, 7. In tho third spell, play was very oven for tho first few minutes, and then Scott put in a couplo of pretty shots, enabling .L. M'lCelvie to scoro tho third goal very easily. From tho hit-off, Parewanui raced down the field, and J. M'Kclvie placed another goal, tho game now boing: —Parewanui, 14; Hawko's Bay, 7, In the fourth spell, another casualty occurred, S. M'Kcnzio's pony stumbling and throwing bis rider, who was partially stunnod. Ho soon recovered, howovcr, and resumed play. In tho next minute F. M'Konzio put up Hawke's .Bay's first goal. A couplo of minutes after, S. M'Kenzie retired, and his place was taken by W. Scott. Hawke's Bay put on their second goal almost immediately after, the score- being:—Parewanui, 14; Hawke's Bay, 9. Before tho spell ended Pharazyn scored from a "sitter" in front of the goal. The fifth spell cnilcd without a score, but with four minutes gone in tho final spell, C. Bonnet hit another goal for -Hawke's Bar, making tho game:—Parewanui, 14;'Hawko's Bay, 11. The spoil ended without any further scoro, _ Parewanui thus winning tho "cup by a majority of thrco goals.

At tho termination of tho gamo, t)ic cup was handed over by Lady PJunJset to Vr, L. M'Kelvio on behalf of the team*