POLO

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 106, 1 April 1930, Page 8

POLO

HANDICAP CUP GAMES. (Special to “Standard.”) FEILDING, April 1. Play in the Handicap Cup games was continued at the Now Zealand Polo Association’s tournament at Feilding yosterday afternoon, the most keenly contested game being that when the Savile Cup winners—Hawke’s Bay A — met and defeated Waimai after conceding them an 18 goal handicap, Hawke’3 Bay being on the scratch mark. The first chukka opened at a galloping pace and had the Hawke’s Bay shooting beon as accurate as their team work they would have overhauled the lead Waimai had in short time. Towards the end of the first spell tho shooting improved and threo goals were registered by the Bay players. Some idea of the number of mis-hits made by Hawke’s Bay in the second chukka can be gathered by the fact that it registered 11 hits behind before any score came. Tho two goals put on by the scratch team in this chukka, were obtained by K. MacKenzie and Campbell —lß—s. In tho next chukka, Waimai maintained a fast pace, but the Bay got home two goals through Lyons and Campbell —18—7. The score rose to 18 —10 in tho fourth chukka, when F. MacKenzie, Campbell and K. MacKenzie scored. Interest wa3 still holding in the galloping game which Waimai was making and when that team put on a goal early in tho fifth chukka, the enthusiasm by tlie spectators was expressed in loud -1Hawke's Bay then put on a spurt and produced four goals, one each from the four players —19 —14. In tho sixth chukka F. MacKenzie and Campbell brought the scoro to 19—16, and during tho play H. retire. Tho vacancy was taken by his W. Upton received an injury and had to brother. The final chukka opened with tho scratched team still requiring threo goals t to even up tho score and these were obtained by Lyons. All square, tho teams made it very willing as they struggled for the deciding goal which came from F. MacKenzie, who brought the 6core to 20Messrs Hewitt and N, Scott were tho umpires. ' MATANGI B v. HAWKE’S BAY B. With each haying a handicap of 19, Matangi B and Hawke's Bay B met on level terms and provided an exciting game, the scores hanging closely together tnroughout. At the fast chukka Hawke’s Bay was one up, tho scores being 24 —23. Matangi made a hot pace and after throe minutes piay Brown goalod to make the •core all square. In attacking the other foal, Phillips shob a beautiful backunder and tho game ended a minute lator with Matangi winning by one goal, the final score being 25—24. The spectators roundly applauded the Waikato team for its splendid game. Mr E. E. Short refereed. ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of the New Zealand Polo Association was held last night, Mr K. L. Levin presiding over a good attendance. The annual report was adopted as follows: —“Last year’s tourney attracted excellent entries and the contests for the three cups produced exciting games. Christchurch were successful in retaining the Savile Cup and it is to be regretted that that team did not defend the trophy this year. Congratulations are due to the AVaimai Club in annexing the Handicap Cup, and to tho Homewood team for its success in the Junior Cup contest, and tho committee are confident that these successes have dono much to foster the game in the Waikato. The current tourney marks the last to be held on tho central ground in Feilding under the agreement made with the Feilding Jockey Club by Messrs. R. L. Levin and M. R. Murphy. The agreement expires next year when the tourney will be hold in the South Island and it will be ncoeseary, therefore, for members to consider the preparation of a fresh agreement. In this connection, the mooting will consider a notice of motion from the Matangi Club that the tourney be held in tho Waikato in 1932. Thanks are due to the Feilding A. and P. Association, which has been of immense assistance to the association in tho conduct of the several tournaments hold in Feilding. That association’s generous action in placing at our disposal their grounds and buildings for the accommodation of the ponies places us under a deep obligation to it. Tho statement of tho association’s finances shows that the association continues to consolidate its position, and that its principal assets are lepresented in stock.” VENUE OF TOURNEY. The meeting then went into the matter of the tourney in 1932, Mr Chitty, (Matangi) moving that the tournament in that year be held on a oentral ground in tho Waikato. Enlarging upon his motion, tho speaker suggested that the tourney be held in tho AA aikato once in every three years. Ho quite realised that tho Waikato clubs would require to provide a first rate ground and see that its location was central and answered all other requirements 9Uch as those respecting the accommodation of players, ponies, grooms and visitors. Polo was booming in the Waikato and ho considered that a Savile Cup tourney there would go a long way towards improving the standard of play. Mr Chitty- suggested that a special committee should be set up to view the proposed site of the ground and decide whether it would be suitable. Mr 11. Wilson seconded the motion.

The chairman quite agreed that the tourney should go to the Waikato, but only on the understanding that a suitablo ground could bo secured. Any approval of a change in the location of the tourney must be subject to the following conditions : (l) That the ground selected must he a first rate one and (2) the locality must be in the best interests of the visiting teams; there must be accommodation for players, grooms, and ponies, and the ground must meet requirements as to accessibility. He agreed that it would be best to set up a small committee to go to the Waikato to seo the ground and that committee should have the power of deciding whether the ground suggested was in every way suitable for the holding of tho Savile C'up- tourney. If the locality was agreed upon and the Waikato clubs went ahead with tho preparing of it, then it would be necessary for the committee to make >an inspection again at the end of 1931 to decide whether all conditions had been complied with. If the ground were found not to bo suitable then the tourney would have to be • postponed till the ground was brought up to the standard of Savile Cup' requirements. Under the foregoing conditions there was no objection to tho 1932 tourney going to the Waikato. .TTr Levin agreed that it would bo in the interests of polo if the Waikato could obtain a good ground similar to that in bedding and it was the duty of the association to do all in its power to help the proposal along. Mr Chitty said that the Waikato clubs were quite prepared to proceed with the preparing of a ground under the conditions suggested. The meeting then agreed by 13 votes to 3 that the tourney for 1932 should bo held in the Waikato subject to the conditions above, tho three votes' against the proposal being from tho three South Island clubs. Mr Chitty thanked the meeting for the support it had given the Waikato representatives. The following special committee was set up ,to make the inspection with full power to act: Messrs Levin, Riddiford and Wilder. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officors were elected for tho ensuing year as follow Patron, His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloo; president. Mr H. Elworthy (Christchurch); vice-president, Mr D. H.. S. Riddiford; committee, Messrs G. Grigg, D. W. J. Gould R. L. Levin, G. do V. Chitty and J. Gatenby; hon. treasurer, Mr E. E. Short - secretary, Mr K. M. Little; hon. auditor, Mr A. H. Maguire. THE FEILDING GROUND. It was unaminously resolved that tho special committee set up to deal with the Waikato ground should be empowered to negotiate with the Feilding Jockey Club for a further lease of the central grourM. All speakers agreed that this was the beet ground in New Zealand and that it was I

in the interests of polo to retain it. The lease expires next year and in rearranging it tho committee will also negotiate with the Feilding A. and P. Association for the use of the association’s stabling accommodation. COST OF TOURNEYS. The chairman reminded the meeting that prior to the making of the central ground in Feilding it was a rule that the club holding t“e Savile C'up tourney always paid tho association a fee for the rights to reimburse the association for the costs. For some reason this had been overlooked and as the association had to carry the cost when the tourney was held in Christchurch and always made a loss, it was only fair that the Christchurch Club should pay something. Very little was made out of the tourney when held in Feilding—simply enough to carry on and the association’s funds always slumped when the tourney went south. In considering tho matter, however, delegates should not lose sight of the fact that the South Island voting powor was considerably less than that of the North Island and it would not bo fair to request any unreasonable sum for the Savile Cup tourney rights. On the motion of Messrs Short and Chitty it was decided to fix tho charge at £3O. GENERAL. On the motion of Captain White it was decided to recommend to the incoming committee that c’lubs be encouraged to use polo boots “or ponies instead of puttees. It was pointed out that the puttees, unless strapped or sewn, often came undone and were a source of danger. The affiliation of the To Awamutu and Whangarei Clubs was approved.