POLO TOURNEY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 24 March 1939, Page 4

POLO TOURNEY.

AUSTRALASIAN GOLD CUP. WESTERN DISTRICTS WIN. The first match in the Australasian Gold Cup polo competition was played yesterday alternoon under ideal conditions at" Feilding, the teams being: Western Districts (chocolate). —I. Parsons. T. Gaddum, R. AlcKelvie, X. Duncan.

Auckland Province (red). —R. Nolan, G. Peake, I. .S, Allen, P. Klaus.

lire umpires were Messrs H. Watson and J. Ranstead Tlic match was won l>v Western Districts after an exciting game. In the first halt-minute of the initial ehukka K. Duncan goaled for Western. Gaddum in a fast run improved, but the half went behind and play came back to the centre of the held, where Gaddum took possession to pass on to McKelvie. who sent a splendid angle shot to the goal-mouth, where K. Duncan tapped it in. Another score came Western Districts’ way in the second clnikka when, inspired by AlcKelvie, an attack was made, Duncan assisting to the goal, where a clever shot by McKelvie sent the willow through between the uprights. A moment later Gaddum got away the ball, speeding to the goal, but Klaus was there and ho sent out a good clearing allot. Again the lead was made by Western Districts, and McKelvie got into position to register another goal. Auckland attacked strongly at this stage and Noln.ii centred the ball towards tlio goal, but the willow was sent out of danger. Allen also looked like scoring a few seconds later, but again the ball failed to reach the goal. Continuing the attack, Auckland were successful when Nolan got possession and sent the ball between the uprights just as the bell sounded: Western Districts -1, Auckland Province 1.

McKelvie early in the next ehukka sent in a goaling shot, but the ball hit an upright and bounced back into the field. Duncan again made an effort, but Klaus beat him for the ball. Parsons and Duncan were associated in another attack on the Auckland goal, but the ball rolled out beside the upright. Auckland got going smartly a moment later with the ball in the possession of Nolan who piloted it to the goal, where Peake shot the final hit through. The third enukka ended a moment later following an attack by Auckland, the defence being saved by Parsons. The fourth spell opened with Auckland attacking, but Gaddum drew play to midfield, where it was carried on to Auckland’s territory. Gaddiun sent in a good shot, but its effect was nullified by Klaus. Not long after Duncan and McKelvie were associated in a scoring movement, the former hitting the goaling shot, which was disallowed on account of a foul. A 30 yards

penalty hit was awarded Western Districts, R. McKelvie sending the hall through. Duncan again got away to score lor Western, and immediately alter the change over Gaddum went on to score again. The bell rang with the scores: Western Districts 7, Auckland Province 2.

Auckland attacked early in the fifth ehukka. but McKeJvie got the ball out of danger. Allen and Nolan, however, took charge again and Western were called upon to defend, but failed to halt a fast ball driven by Allen, the ball passing through to score Auckland's third goal just lielore the end of the ehukka. Faced with the task of scoring 5 ixiints to win, Auckland tried hard in the final ehukka. Western hit out. Allen, however, got in some good shots and held the position momentarily until Duncan came up to hit the hall out to neutral territory. Allen again attacked arid carried plav back to Western territory, where Parsons saved and drew the ball away. The advantage was not held for long, as Klaus swung the willow back and in a fast sprint carried it to the goal, where Allen added the final touch: Western Districts 7, Auckland Province 4. The bell sounded time a moment later. The final game will be between Hawke’s Day A and Western Districts. JUNIOR HANDICAP CUP. TAIIIAPE v. RANGITIKEI B. The final match of the junior handicap cup competition was played yesterday afternoon lecturer Taihape and Rangitikei B. The teams were:— Taihape: (white) —R. 11. Lowry, W. R. Duncan, T. C. Lowry, J. Duncan. Rangitikei B: (chocolate). —E. Duncan, Q. 0. Wilson, R. Simpson, W. W. Wilson. In tlie opening ehukka a free hit was awarded against Rangitikei for crossing, the shot being taken by J. Duncan, who scored. There was no change at the end of the first ehukka. The second ehukka was scoreless, but most of the play was centred in Tailiape’s territory. Hie third ehukka was Rangitikei’s when, following excellent movements by Simpson, this player went oil to goal. Just prior to the bell, Q. Wilson sent a good shot toward the Taihape goal, but the ball went wide. The fourth ehukka saw Simpson score after a patch of close play in the vicinity of Taihape s goal. A nice shot up-field by Q. 0. "Wilson ended in a score by the same player. Although the bell had sounded ‘ the ball was not out of play and R. Lowry goaled for Taihape, who had been pressing about Rangitikei s goal. Simpson and Q. 0. Wilson were unable to send the willow through the goal mouth in the fifth ehukka, when

the ball hovered about Taihape’s goalposts. The game was halted at this stage owing to an injury to J. Duncan, who was struck on the chin by a stick. On the resumption, Q. 0. 'Wilson goaled and repeated the success, a moment later, to bring Rangitikci’s score to 5.

In tlic final clnikka, Taihape at tacked very strongly and drew the willow to the goal-mouth, where beautiful saves were effected by Q. 0. Wilson, who throughout the match gave splendid exhibitions Rangitikei’s chances of scoring were enhanced by the work of Simpson and Q. 0. "Wilson, but J. Duncan with a magnificent shot cleared and in a fast gallop drew play to Rangitikei’s goal-mouth, where R. Lowry’s shot hit the goalpost to come back into play, whore Rangitikei got the ball away to the far end. Then a backhand thrust bySimpson succeeded and raised Rangitikei’s score to 6. The bell was sounded a moment later, the final score being: Rangitikei B 6, Taihape 2. Messrs Harold Wilson and J. Ranstcad umpired the match.