POLO AT FEILDING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 970, 20 March 1924, Page 5

POLO AT FEILDING.

ANNUAL TOURNAMENT.

SAVILE CUP MATCHES,

The annual tournament of the New Zea» land Polo Association opened on the Feeding Racecourse grounds yesterday. The weather left nothing to be desired, and the attendance of the public was stated to be considerably in excess of that of the first day last year. Two matches were played in tho Savilo Cup eontost, Rangitikei A team beating Wairarapa 14 —1, <md Hawke’s Bay B beating Rangitikei B, 4 — 2. RANGJTIKEI A WIN EASILY,

In the first mentioned match Waira-rapa was outgeneralled throughout. At times bright flashes of individual play were seen, but the Wairarapa team lacked combination, though vigorous in attaek. Rangitikoi took the initiative at' the . commencement of play and easily maintained tlie advantage to the end of the game. The first spell saw the Rangitikei four pressing hard right to Wairarapa’s goal An attempt to score by N, Scott' just failed, From some dose playing wnieh followed N. Scott took chage and aeored the first goal, R. L. Levin following later with the second. A rally by Wairarapa failed to stem the attack from the opposing side, N. Scott registering tho third goal for Rangitikei just at the close of the spell. Wairarapa opened the second spell with a determined attack but failed to score. R. McKelvio took charge of the ball for Rangitikei and, following a smart run down field, goaled. Riddiford and Martin for Wairarapa led a brisk rally but they were again outplayed, R. Levin scoring tho second goal of the spell for Rangitikei. From the third to the last spell the Wairarapa men were seen to better advantage than they wore in the opening stages and they managed to keep their opponents busy defending their goal. The superior combination of Rangitikei, however, was never absent and co-opera-tion told the tale. In tho third spell R. McKelvio and N. Scott added one each to Rangitikci’s score, In tho next spell Ridtfifqrd and Martin were conspicuous in the Wairarapa team and they were responsible for some bright play. They could not, however, penetrate tho defence. N. Scott scored one for Rangitikei in this spell. Determined attacks and counter-attacks characterised the next spell, but the advantage rested always with Rangitikei for Whom R. McKelvie scored. N. Scott justfailed to register a second, the ball ending its course short of the goal. Rangitikei scored throe the next spell—N. Scott (2) and R. McKelvio (1), Wairarapa failing in spite of some excellent attempt* to win through to their opponents’ goal. In the -seventh and last spell, Wairarap* put on a spurt, Riddiford forcing "the pace down field with Martin handy. Riddiford missed in front of the goal, but Martin closed in and retrieved the ball which he shot through, registering the only goal of the match for Wairarapa. Rangitikei then made several spirited attacks against their opponents, two goals being scored by R. McKelvie. The game ended : Rangitikei A 14, Wairarapa 1. Mr M. Murphy umpired. AN EXCITING CONTEST. In the noxt match between Hawke’s Bay B and Rangitikei B there was some fast and exciting play, this being a jnuoh better game than the previous one. The first three spells saw no score registered for either side, notwithstanding the determined attacks made on both goals. In the fourth spell R. Scott opened Rangitikei’s account by scoring a neat goal, but F. Mackenzie replied for Hawke’s Bay, /making the scores oven. In the fifth spell Mackenzie, who gave a splendid exhibition of riding and dash, scored another goal. ■ The sixth spell was most interesting, and the value of combination was *een in the play of both teams.- The scene of action wa» evenly distributed up and down the field. Rangitikei pressed hard but on several oepwions when a score seemed imminent the Hawke’s Bay players' closed in and frustrated the attempts at goal. Mackenzie for Hawke’s Bay neatly goaled just before tho close of the spell, the score then being 3—l in favour of Hawke’s Bay. The last spell saw Rangitikei straining every nerve to equalise and to secure’ the winning margin but they failed, only one goal being secured for which R. Scott was responsible. Hawke’s Bay with a flap! spurt, closed the spell with another point, N. Campbell scoring. The game ended: Hawke’s Bay B 4, Rangitikei B 2. 'Mr L. Macßean Stewart controlled the game.