INTERNATIONAL POLO

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1927, Page 12

INTERNATIONAL POLO

U.S.A., INDIA AND BRITAIN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, September 9. The first game for the International Challenge Cup, between the British Army, India and the United States Polo Association team will be played to-morrow afternoon, the second game on Wednesday, and the third after that if necessary. The winner of two out of three games will take the Cup, which is now in possession of the United States. The British team is composed as follows: —One, Captain Pert; two, Major Williams; three, Captain Roarke; back, Major Atkinson. It is believed to be a stronger team than that of the British challengers in 1924, and is better mounted, having several excellent Australian ponie?», supplied by the Maharajah of Rutlam, adviser to the British team. He, with Viscount Cowdray of the Hurlingham Club, will' see the matches. The Americans will play the same team as that of 1924. They are: One, AVebb ; two, Hitchcock ; three, Stevenson ; back. Milburn. . AMERICANS WIN FIRST MATCH. NEW YORK, September 10. At Westbury the United States won the first match in the international polo from the British team by thirteen goals to three.' In. the first half minute of the game, Hitchcock shot a goal for the Americans, to be followed towards tjie end of chukker by another by Stevenson, giving them a lead of iwo goals. The American team’s play was superb. The British players were extremely inaccurate, but they warmed up in the second chukker and the Array team kept the ball nearly all ilia time in American territory. Twice Atkinson, who was playing like a demon, nearly shot a goal, but- the chukker remained goalless. Atkinson shot a goal for Britain in the third chukker and Hitchcock shot two for America. The British play was now vastly improved, Atkinson and Pert hitting well and following the ball. The Americans in the fourth chukker made three goals, Hitchcock shooting two and Webb one. Hitchcock’s mallet work was unequalled. In the fifth chukker, Milburn scored two goals for America, and in the sixth Hitchcock and Web bshot one each. In the seventh chunker Webb scored one for America and Roake one for the. British. Atkinson was often forced out of position by being compelled to play the ball singly.’ The British, missed many goals by inchesj seeming to have ill fortune after particularly good riding. In the eighth chunker, Webb (America) and Pert (Britain) each got goals, giving the American victory by 13 to 3. \