POLO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15257, 18 March 1910, Page 4

POLO.

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL TOURNAMENT.

The heavy rain which 101 l early yesterday morning made it doubtful whether the New Zealand Polo Association’s annual tournament could be continued, as the ground was very soft when the rain ceased. The committee decided that the matches should br continued, and in the afternoon the second round of the Handicap Cup competition w*as finished. There was again a. large attendance of spectators. The ground quickly began to break up, and in the latter part oi the afternoon its condition greatly affected the quality of the play. With only two goals to catch up, Christchurch A had not much difficulty in beating Pareora by three goals, though the South Canterbury team was unfortunate in not securing a larger number of points. A. S. Elworthy, the number four man, was a tower of strength in the defence, and time after time Miller instituted splendid attacking rushes, but only two of them were successful. In the second match of the afternoon Ha-warden, with a handicap of eighteen goals, played Hawke’s Baj-, the scratch team, and although it was recognised that the northern team had a heavy task to equalise the handicap, it was expected that it would accomplish this. This mutch was probably the most interesting witnessed during the tournament, 'i'he Hawarden team gave a splendid exhibition, cf defensive tactics, and not only did they succeed in keeping their opponent’s score down to fourteen goals, but they also added two goals to their own handicap, and won the match by six goals. The Hawarden men played almost brilliantly against the greatly superior odds, G. L. Rutherford and H. Little being particularly prominent, and they were the first local team to show any consistent combination. This afternoon, at three o’clock, the final match for the Handicap Cup will be played between Christchurch A (10 goals) and Hawarden (18 goals), and this will conclude the tournament. To-morrow afternoon a sports and race meeting will be held at the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s grounds, Addington. Following are details of yesterday afternoon's play: HANDICAP CUP COMPETITION. Second Round. Pareora (1-2 goals) met. Christchurch A (10 goals). Tho teams were as follows:—Christchurch A (red); J. D. Hall (captain), Alister Clark, T. L. Cowlishaw and Dr A. C. Maitland; Pareora (white): H. E. Elworthy, P. A. Elworthy, J. C. Miller and A. S. Elworthy (captain). For nearly the whole of the first seven minutes Christchurch attacked strongly, hut inaccurate driving for the goal and a fine defence by A. S. Elworthy (the number four man) nullified their efforts to score. A scramble in front of the goal gave Clark an opportunity,, and shot an easy goal. A minute later H. E. Elworthy carried the ball down the ground, and it was taken oil by Miller, who restored Pareoia’s original lead. Immediately afterwards Maitland shot wide at goal, but Cowlishaw was waiting for the ball, and turned it between the posts. At the end of the first period the scores were: Pareora 13 goats, Christchurch A 12 goals. Tire second spell was well advanced when the bail was carried through by Christchurch from a throw-in near tho pavilion,. and Clark scored. The only addition to tho score at half-time was a goal hit by Clark just as timo was called, giving the Reds a one-pomt lead. On resuming, the Whites were hard pressed, and although A. 8. Elworthy stopped a shot as it was crossing the goal-lme, the posiiion was not relieved, and a moment later Cowlishaw hit a goal with an easy shot. Piav of a very even character followed, and then a clever pass by Clark was taken by Hall in front of tho goal and shot between tho posts. Tho spell ended with a lino display by Miller, who drove dovm tho ground in great style, but no score resulted. Towards tire end of .ho nlth period Hall hit a goal. Throughout the final period Pareora maintained a determined attack, but their efforts .seemed to bo dogged with misfortune, and it was not until A. S. Elworthy scored from a freo hit that their score was increased. There wan no further score, and Christchurch A won by 17 goals to 14. Hawke’s Bay (scr) met Hawarden (16 goals). Tho following were the teams: Hawke’s Bay (red)-J. D. Ormond 0 Nelson, T. A. Russell (captain) and W. C. A. Mackenzie. Haw-arden (white)—G. L. Rutherford. H. T. Little, C. 0. T. Rutherford and Fritz Fox. For five minutes Hawarden made a bold stand against tho Hawke’s Bay attack, and then Mackenzie registered the first goal of the game. Fox rushed away from the throw-in at midfield, hut ho was not supported, and Hawke’s Bay attacked again. Splendid driving by'Mackenzie took the ball to the goal, where Ormond shot it through. He hit a third goal a moment later, and then Nelson got possession from a throwin. Fox saved in fine stylo right on tho goalline, but Ormond was just behind, and. shot the ball through. Little saved what appeared to be a certain score immediately play was resumed, and the Whites carried tho hall up Iho ground, but tho shot at goal was wide. There was no addition to the score in the second spell, Hawarden maintaining a splendid defence, and in the third spell Hawke’s Bav scored only once, Mackenzie hitting a goal. The scores at half-time were —Hawarden 18 goals, Hawke’s Bay 5 goals. Ormond scored twice in tho fourth speh, and in the fifth Nelson added a point. C. 0. T. Rutherford’s pony was brought down bv a cross, and from the consequent free hit G. L. Rutherford hit a goal. A moment later Ormond carried the . ball up. and Nelson scored. When tho sixth spell began the scores were—Hawarden 19 goals, Hawke’s Bay 9. Early in tho last period, Nelson hit the tenth goal for Hawko’s Bay,

and immediately afterwards G. L. Rutherford scored. Additional goals were hit by Ormond (2) and Nolson (2), and Hawarden won by 20 goals to 14.