POLO IN AUSTRALIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 140, 18 May 1925, Page 7

POLO IN AUSTRALIA

NEW ZEALANDERS BEATEN.

SYDNEY, May 17. The tournament, for the Australasian Polo Cip mid challenge trophy, presented by Messrs R. T. Melrose and A. Hordern for competition between four of the Australian B tales and Now Zealand began on tho Kensington racecourse yesterday. The weather was unpropitious, rain having fallen on the previous night', making the ground sloppy and slippery, and preventing the players fiorn getting a proper both of their sticks. There were several falls. O. Nelson, number two man in the Dominion. team, went ’down in the first chukkn. and again in the second, the latter fall shaking him so much that he was compelled to retire, N. Campbell (reserve) taking his place. The opening match, was the New South Wales “Red” team against New Zealand. 11l the first chukka, J. Lyons (number one) secured first blood for tho visitors, but within a, couple of minutes, New South Wales equalised with a score just at. the close of the term. In the second chukka New South Wales added a couple of goals, their ponies appearing faster and their combination superior to that of the New Zealanders. The i.hird chukka produced four more, while tho New Zealand score remained unaltered. In the fourth chukka, the visitors livened up and after some line play W. A. Mackenzie (back) scored, but New South Wales added two further goals, making tho scores 9—2. The remainder of tho gamo was played in a downpour, which drove the spectators to shelter. The New Zealanders _ defended well under very difficult conditions, but could not prevent their opponents from piling up the points. In tho final chukka, Lyons placed another goal to the visitors’ credit, nnd the game ended: New South Wales 15, New Zealand 3. The visitors were obviously outpaced by players whose constant practice and participation jn competitions had perfected their combination. The New Zealanders were unfortunate in striking such wretched weather, but they are bound to show considerably improved form in tho next contest. Nelson’s fall was not 6erious. Owing to tho dangerous conditions of the ground, the second match, New South Wales “Whites” versus Victoria was postponed. —Press Association.