POLO TOURNEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 107, 2 April 1930, Page 8

POLO TOURNEY

HANDICAP CUP. SEMI-FINALS. (Special to “Standard.”) FEILDING, April 2. The semi-finals for the Handicap Cup in the New Zealand Polo Association’s tournament were_ played yesterday afternoon when Wairarapa met Parewanui and Hawke s Bay A played Matangi B. In the former game the local players conceded the V airarapa combination three goal 3, the handicaps Vicing 9 6 in favour of W airarapa. The final chukka found the w ores 14—10, Wairarapa having increased their lead by one. Parewanui set up a galloping pace in the last spell and in quick time registered two goalH, Wand and Scott being responsible, but a staunch defence on' both sides prevented further score, the final bell sounding with Wairarapa winning by 14 goals to 12. Messrs. 0. Nelson and H. W. Wilson were the umpires. HAWKE’S BAY (scr.) v. MATANGI B. (19). In the first chukka Hawke’s Bayfound the posts twice out of about nine attempts to goal, the remainder of the shots going behind, and early in the second chukka It- McKenzie and Campbell added two more, reducing the lead of the opposition to 10. J ust prior to the chukka beil R. McKenzie broke through an almost continuous melee in front of the Matangi posts. W. McKenzie made the opening in the next spell for It. McKenzie to tap the willow home. In the succeeding play no little amusement was caused when one of the umpires became unseated. Hawke’s Bay continued to press their opponents and at the end of the fourth chukka the score read 19—BJthe scratch team having cut their handicap in half. The long odds given, however, proved too great an obstacle to the Hawke's Bay players who at times shot most inaccurately the final chukka found the scoreu 19 14 in favour of Matangi, the win being solely on its handicap no goals to the Waikato team being registered. Messrs. Levin and W elder were the umpires. CUP FINAL. MATANGI DEFEAT WAIRARAPA. TOURNAMENT CONCLUDES. The New Zealand Polo Association’s annual tournament was concluded this morning alter a buceesstul season, the weather throughout being perfect the final game this morning was for the Handicap Gup between Matangai B (19) and Wairarapa A ja,, me teams oeing as follow: Matangi (old gold).—W. Phillips, R. Townsend, E. Brown, B. Chitty. Wairarapa (red). —C. H. G. Hewitt, D. C. Collins, R. N. Barton, D. 11. S, Uiddiford. w airarapa forced the issue in the opening chukkas and at the end of the Uurd ■pell hod registered four goals, tfie scores standing at 19 —15 in favour of Matangi at the chukka belJ. Tho lourth chukka saw the open game continued, but with the reds lading to make the headway against Matangi that their handicap demanded. A siege on tiie Matangi goal saw several shots to the posts warded oil by a staunch defence, and a raid by the oid goid players saw Utility come through to find the posts with a ciean hit —kb — 10. J/laymg to the opposite goal, Matangi again assumed the ottensive, Brown outdistancing the “eld to register an easy goal, the Bpell ending: Matangi ki — u. Barton tailed with a clear hit to goal ear.y in tiie succeeding cnukkn, hut tho pressure was maintained lor Barton to retnevo his laureis and score.—ki —l4. Townsend rode Hewitt off tno willow in tne opening stages ot tne lollowirig chukka and although for a While the reus threatende the oid gold posts no score resulted, Chitty unaliy repulsing tho attack to carry the game uirough to the. reds' territory with clean driving at a fast pace, his hnai shot going behind. A penalty hit was awarded vVairarapa in the succeeding play, un old gold player crossing Collins, but Riddiford tailed to turn it to advantage. Mutarigi attacked but were held off by Riddiford for Hewitt and Collins to have a clean run, tne latter failing with an easy tut.

The linal chukka opened with the reds ioiciug too issue, but. lulling through inaccurate shooting. Matangi contested the advances of Wairarapa, Brown playing clever polo to outmanoeuvre Kiddnoru and get away, but with a clear held before nun he lost jiossession of his stick in making a drive, lhe reds saved, Barton holding off the opposition tor Kidditord to streak up tho side line, his gallop ending in a goal, while almost immediately alter the change-over Barton evaded tne oppoetion to find the posts, the final bell sounding soon after with tho scores reading kl —16 in favour of Matangi. Messrs 0. Nelt/ori and C. J? - . McKenzie •were tho umpires. UUP PRESENTED. After tho match tho Mayor (Mr C. E. Taylor) presented tho cuji to tne successful Matangi team and congratulated them on their double win in annexing both tho Junior Uup and tho Handicap Uup. Mr Riddiford, vice-president ot tho is.Z. Polo Association, and captain of the Wairarapa team, also spoko, paying a tribute to tho sporting game Maiangi hud playod, and also thanking tho people ot Funding for the hospitality oxtenued to the visitors during tho tournament.