POLO MATCHES

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 September 1924, Page 3

POLO MATCHES

U.S.A, v. BRITAIN.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

NEW YORK, September 8.

Louis Lacey, the back and captain of the British polo team, will be unable to play in the first game against the United States to-morrow, because of an attack of shingles. Major Atkinson will be at back, Major Phipps Hornsby No. 2, and Major Kirkwood No. 1. It is likely Major Hurnda.il will act as captain. The announcement that Lacey has withdrawn is deemed by American newspaper sporting writers as a very favourable development for the American team. Lacey was to have been captain, and is thought by all to be the best player in the British team.

Both teams exercised yesterday, the Americans merely knocking the ball around thei field in order to keep their muscles limber. The Britishers played a scrub team, wherein Major Phipps-Hornsby was one of the players, and which team won by 8/50. Notwithstanding! this defeat, the critics reported that the British team are improving daily, and if Lacey could only participate, the outlook was good for a close contest. The popular interest in the match is the greatest ever seen in this country, notwithstanding the postponement of the first game'from last Saturday. Practically no tickets, whereof forty thousand have been sold, have been returned. The second match is set down for Saturday, and the third for next week, probably on Wednesday.