POLO

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 112, 11 April 1929, Page 2

POLO

HANDICAP GAMES. (Special to “Standard.”) . . FEILDING, April 11. The polo tournament was continued yesterday when further games in the Handicap and Junior Cups were playHAWKE’S BAY Av v. WAIMAI. The Bay men conceded their opponents a start of 28 in this match, the wearers of the striped uniform starting from scratch. For a while it seemed as if Hawke’s Bay might achieve the seemingly impossible and exceed the handicap they were facing, but at the seventh chukka they had only cut the lead down by half and interest in the, match consequently lagged. The game ended: Hawke’s Bay A 16, Waimai 28, the Waikato men not adding one goal to their handicap. CHRISTCHURCH- (scr.) v. MATANGI . (21). The initial chukka found the Waikato team in great form and their play surprised both spectators and opponents who, nevertheless, found the pace to their liking. Hinton scored first and then Johnson evened it up as the chukka ended—l—22. For the second chukka Gould went up to No. 3 position, Hutton taking back and, following a vigorous galloping fight, Gould led an attack in which he set the willow nicely for Johnson to score —2—22. Plenty of long shooting followed, the Matangi men equalling the champions in this art, Bryant distinguishing himself in returning Hutton’s shoot for goal with a masterly stroke. Johnson then goaled as the chukka ended—3—22. There was plenty of free- galloping in the third chukka, the Waikato juniors both riding and hitting exceedmgly well. The long hitting was making the pace and in a perfect attack, Hinton again goaled—3-23. A second or so before the chukka ended, Matangi attacked vigorously and was unfortunately penalised at a moment when a goal -yas imminent. In fact, the umpire thought the goal had actually been scored and lilew his whistle just as Gould backhanded the ball out of the goal mouth. Matangi returned it and sent it between the posts. The whistle had gone, so the goal went for naught. It was hard luck for Mamade a successful attack at the opening of the fourth chukka, which ended in Johnson scor-ing—4-1-23. Johnson soon after goaled again and then Gould sent one home—6—23. Bryant got a short run, but lost his second hit when ridden off by Hutton and Gould took charge, to goal i fj 23. Matangi held the advantage for the best part of the fifth chukka, towards the end of which Gould made a nice run and scored prettily—B—23. Grigg made the score 9—23 at the opening of the sixth chukka and Gould made it ten a minute later. As the chukka ended Gould put on another. The contest drew to a close with the teams still hard at it and interest quite strong. Johnson scored and Matangi, pressing, got two behinds, and the-game ended without further score—ll—23. JUNIOR CUP. WON BY HOMEWOOD A. The final game for the Junior Cup was a spirited contest between Homewood A and Mataiigi A,- the ■ former winning by four goals* two. ' . At the conclusion ojf j the match Mrs D. H S. ltiddiford presented the cup I to the cdptain of the winning team (E. T. Wilder) and miniatures to the other members. Matangi was also congratulated on its splendid game. Twice Matangi attacked strongly in the opening chukka, but Homewood s defence was sure and when Wilder .gained possession from Townsend, he made a nice opening for J. I). Ormond, who rode hard to goal. Chitty failed to connect with his backhander in the goal mouth—l—o. The chukka ended without, further score. Townsend repulsed Homewood s next vigorous attack, which occurred after Ranstead had twice got away, only to miss vital shots. Subsequently, Phillips .and Ranstead were associated in a classic attack, which failed to . bear fruit when Chitty’s shot at goal missed. The chukka failed to produce any score. , ~,111 ■ Matangi opened the third chukka with a brisk attack, wherein Chitty’s goal shot shaved the post to go behind. Sherratt and E. W. Ormond were associated in a movement which brought Homewood to i)latangi’s goal, where the advantage was eagerly contested till Phillips set the teams galloping again. This enabled Townsend to centre for Ranstead to even up the score. The Waikato visitors were pressing when the chukka ended. The'game continued at a galloping pace in the fourth chukka, both teams being fully extended, with the hitting to the liking of the spectators. Two behinds to Homewood stirred the Matangi men, who went to their opponents’ goal at full speed, where Ranstead set the willow for Townsend to tap it through the posts—2—l. Both Sherratt and E. W. Ormond kept Matangi busy in the next chukka. Youth set a vigorous pace, which claimed all the play Ranstead, Matangi’s No. 1, could give. Wilder found the line with excellent shots when the attacks became dangerous and then served his forwards in a commendable manner. The chukka ended without a score. , . Play did not vary m the sixth chukka, when the contest continued with unaabted energy. The chukka bell had rung when J. Ormond goaled, making the score tjvo all. Homewood gave no chances in the last chukka. Sherratt and J. Ormond each scoring in quick time—4—2. Chitty then gave an opening but Ranstead’s shot missed by inches. A moment later, Ranstead again missed a sitter and the game ended with Homewood A victorious by 4 goab to 2.