POLO TOURNEY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 161, 3 April 1930, Page 17

POLO TOURNEY

HANDICAP CUP FINAL WIN FOR MATANGI “B” Dominion Special Service. Feiiding, April 2. The Matangi “B’ polo team, which won the junior cup last week, secured the handicap cup this morning, defeating Wairarapa rather easily with the aid of a big handicap. The teams were:— Wairarapa “A”: C. H. G. Hewitt, D. C. Collins, D. H. S. Riddiford, R. N. Barton (9), Matangi “B”: W. Phillips, R. Townsend, E. Brown, B. Chitty (19). Wairarapa had the advantage of the first movement, taking the ball over the line and Matangi had to suffer a penalty for crossing. Riddiford just missed the goal and Phillips cleared. Brown and Chitty sent the ball to the Wairarapa end, Riddiford being beaten for it, but Collins and Barton relieved and sent play to the opposite end. Hewitt had a good opening, but did not goal, and the hit from the line relieved Matangi. Barton and Hewitt again sent the ball within striking distance without any result, and the chukka ended with no alteration to the score. It was mostly Wairarapa’s spell. The second chukka opened with a fine burst by Chitty, who beat Riddiford for the ball and sent close to the goal, but Riddiford turned in time to clear and set up a Wairarapa attack, from which Barton goaled. Matangi 19—10. Wairarapa scored very soon afterwards, when Hewitt centred for Riddiford to send in. Matangi 19—11. Wairarapa attacked at once, and Riddiford had a rather easy shot, to miss the posts. The spell ended with a penalty against Wairarapa. Matangi 19—11. . From the penalty bit which opened the third spell Phillips did not succeed in goaliiig, and Wairarapa cleared. Hewitt got away from a neutral position and sent the ball well down, but his final effort was not a success. Wairarapa knocked away at the door and Chitty just got in a defensive stroke in time to stop a score. From midfield Hewitt got control and in three perfect hits goaled. Matangi 19—12. Changing over, a M airarapa sortie at once took the ball to within striking distance and Collins sent in the fourth goal. Matangi 19 —13. In the fourth chukka Wairarapa attacked persistently, Phillips defending cleverly and sending out a fine clearing shot. Matangi set up an aggressive operation and carried play to the Wairarapa end, where Chitty gogled. Matangi 20 —13. Things went Matangi s way again, and the Wairarapa team were caught on the wrong side of the ball, but Chitty did not find the posts with a hard shot. However, Brown got control arid, finding Wairarapa out of the play, sent in a good goal. Matangi 21—13. The fifth chukka opened to slow movement, players being evidently tired, Matangi defending. Riddiford pierced a good defence to send in a shot which missed the posts, but, keeping up the pressure, Barton was responsible for another goal. Matangi 21—14. Wairarapa set up a rather lively attack, to which Matangi had no certain defence, but the ball went behind. Broym Rot clean away and sent the ball to the Wairnapa end and the counter-attack centred. The spell ended : Matangi 21—14 A final shot bv Brown centred in the sixth chukka, but Wairarapa secured control and sent to the Matangi territory. Townsend clearing from a sitter, Bnd opening up a ’Matangi evolution, which, however, failed to bring results. A splendid attack by Brown sent the ball from one end of the field to the other, and Wairarapa riders were hard pressed. Collings cleared and Wairarapa got a penalty hit well up, but Riddiford did not goal. Phillips cleared, but. Matangi over-rode the ball and left a clear opening for Hewitt and Collins. Collins missed an easy shot and the spell ended: Mataugj 21—14. The final chukka of the final game of a very successful tourney opened with no hope of Wairarapa overtaking the score. Riddiford came into the game early, but bis shooting was inaccurate and Matangi attacked successfully and were aided by the bad shooting of Wairarapa. Brown got well away and was making what might have been the final shot when he lost big mallet and Riddiford cleared. Wairarapa returned to the attack and though Riddiford made one faultv shot, with his next he goaled. Wairarapa 15 to 21. The change-over saw Wairarapa take control again and Barton shot the final goal. Matangi 21. Wairarapa 16. Messrs. 0. Nelson and C. F. Mackenzie were the umpires. The Mayor (Mr. C. E. Taylor) present; cd the cup and miniatures to the Matangi team, whom he congratulated on their double win, the junior cup and the handicap cup. , , ~ . Mr. Riddiford thanked the people of Feiiding for their lavish hospitality to the visiting players during the tourney.