Brilliant Polo at Feilding

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 71, 25 March 1936, Page 3

Brilliant Polo at Feilding

Cambridge Defeat Hawke’s Bay “A”

Competent opinion had no hesitation in asserting that the' match between Cambridge and Hawke’s Bay “A” in the Savile polo cup contest at Feilding yesterday produced, brilliant polo, and averred that nothing better has been seen in New Zealand since the contests were instituted. The game was dashingly fast, thrilling throughout, and characterised by superb horsemanship and masterly control of tho willow. A spirited contest was anticipated between the Bay. representatives who for years demonstrated an unchallenged superiority until worsted by Christchurch —a contest that stood out for its vigorous play—but yesterday’s game towered abovo that memorable contest for its brilliant exhibition of the game. That there arc in New Zealand players capable of staging such an outstanding exhibition of the game is a matter for congratulation, and indicates that there is available the material for tho training of firstclass exponents of this thrilling game. At the tournament held in Cambridge last year Cambridge were defeated.by Matangi A, but the team that took tho field yosterday against the pick of Hawke’s Bay was a different proposition, and one that asserted itself by a brilliant performance. The second match between Matangi “A," holders of tho cup, and Hawke’s Bay “B” was not a patch on tho first contest, and although Matangi had a comfortable win their form, came nowhere near that of Cambridge, who must go through to claim the coveted trophy. The handicap cup matches will commence to-day and this afternoon the junior cup semi-finals will bo played. SAVILE CUP MATCHES Cambridge v. Hawke’s Bay A Cambridge: R. Nolan 1, G. Vosper 2, K. Peake 3, R. Peake 4. Hawke’s Bay A: J. Lyons 1, J, D. Ormond 2, R. Q. Mackenzie 3, C. F. Mackenzie 4. Cambridge took the ball from the throw-in, but F. Mackenzie got in a backhander to serve his forwards, who, however, were bustled off the ball and at a fast speed Cambridge gathered possession for Rod Peake to get away solo and score comfortably.—l-0. From the throw-in Gordon Vosper got away on a dangerous move, but missed his second shot to enable the Bay to recover through Ormond. Bay played the willow to their opponents’ goal but failed to outmanoeuvre the Blues, and the crowd was thrilled to see Rod Peake get away solo in a brilliant gallop which promised great things. At a terrific paco he held possession of the willow in masterly style, and then overbalanced and lost his mouut at a critical moment. This gave tho Bay the chanco to recover, but they failed to press home the advantage and the chukka ended in favour of the Waikato team by one goal to nil. Cambridge hit out at the commencement of the second chukka, and the attackers cheeked for Lyons to goal and even up the score.—l-1. Tliß chukka developed a fast pace with brilliant hitting on both sides and a rare display of horsemanship. The battle for the advantage continued at a high speed, and just before the spell ended Ken Peake got away to beat the Bay’s rearguard for possession. Missing his shot at the ball for a goal, he rode on for Nolan to take the hit, which narrowly missed. Soon after the commencement of tlio third chukka Cambridge staged a movement that outclassed the Bay team. Sweeping along the far side to the top end, the ball came out to Ken Peake, who goaled prettily.—2-1. The remainder of the chukka was contested at a pace thrilling to a degree, and the clever defence of Cambridge excited the utmost enthusiasm among tho crowd. Just towards the close the Bay team was left a “sitter,” but Lyons failed to make good use of the opportunity. Hard pressed, the Blues cleared beautifully; Commencing from the far top corner where the ball went out at the end of the previous chukka, Bay endeavoured to make the goal, but , their efforts were outclassed and Ken Peake got away down the sideline to shoot, for Vosper to goal in confident style.—3-1. Bay came at their opponents at a furious pace and all , determination to stage a great attack and carried play to the Blues’ goal, w'here two chances went astray. Two hits behind ended the effort, but a minute or two later, when Nolau lost a great . chance through his stick breaking and the defence weakening momentarily, the Bay got through in a spirited attach which ended in Fred Mackenzie goaling in his clever style. Sparkling pace with clever hitting was witnessed in tho fifth chukka which, was hotly contested for six minutes before tho Bay got into a handy position for Lyons to goal prettily. Cambridge made a smart response and took charge for Vosper to equalise. As the bell sounded" Fred Mackenzie registered a comparatively easy 'one to

make the score 4^-all. There-was no. let-up.in the sixth

i Thrilling Savile Cup Contest

chukka with both teams fully extended and battling way valiantly to get the advantage. Cambridge came near to registering about half-way through when Vosper hit behind his shot at goal. Just as tho spell ended Cambridge registered another behind, but the score remained unaltered. In the first 60 seconds of the final chukka Cambridge goaled through the efforts of Nolan, woh won through the press around tho goal to shoot the willow through. 5—4. Excitemont grew with this goal, barrackers for each side raising their voices offering encouragement. Tho Bay team took up the challenge and fought vigorously around the blues’ goal, Ormond and Lyons doing their utmost in to penetrate the alert, and fast-moving defence which countered every onslaught. With one minute to go Cambridge broke up the attack and set off to strive for another goal but the eud of a brilliant exhibition caine with'tho Waikato team the victors by the narrow margin of one goal. Col. D. Hewitt and Mr. D. 11. S. Riddiford were tho umpires. Matangi A v. Hawke’s Bay B. Matangi A: G. Ranstead 1, G. Peake 2, L. Kay 3, G. de V. Chitty 4. Hawke’s Bay B: E. S. Symes 1, H. H. Mackenzie 2, J. M. Chambers 3, E. T. Wilder 4. The opening chukka was all in favour of the Waikato team who went to the attack and quickly registered a goal through tho agency of Ranstead. Bay manoeuvred and equalised with a nice shot by Chambers, but thereafter Matangi held the advantage and as the chukka drew to a close G. Peake made sure of a beautiful shot. 2 —l. G. Ranstead, who suffered a sprained ankle while at practice at Cambridge had to retire during the second-chukka when the injured limb received a bump. For just over 12 minutes the teams fought without altering the score and then Wilder carried home a “sitter" when players and ponies had just about had enough. 2—2. The paco of the earlier match was missed in this contest, the third chukka of which failed to produce a goal, although Matangi held the upper hand and came off for the spell with the satisfaction of having registered three hits behind. Just as the chukka concluded Chambers become unseated, but suffered no injury. Gathering up the willow at the throwin Matangi galloped off in full flight and tho swift-moving team was soon concentrating on their opponent’s goal where Geo. Peake goaled. Combining well the Waikato representatives were soon attacking again and the score became 4—2 as Peake registered another As the chukka drew to a close Matangi had their opponents defending and an infringement saw Kay take the shot from 60 yards for Peake to finish it off. 5—2.

Up and down the field play characterised the fifth chukka with Matangi striving hard to out-Tide their opponents who, encouraged hv Wilder, made an encouraging stand against definitely superior combination. The long struggle ended in Kay making the score C —2 in favour of Waikato. A spectacular goal by Kay opened the sixth .chukka, the shot sending the willow high up in the air between the posts. A rallying effort by the Bay team brightened the proceedings, but misdirection of goal shots delayed the goal which Chambers subsequently sent home. 7 —3. Symes gathered the ball from the throw-in and Mackenzie carried on for Chambers to goal again. 7—4., For the remainder of the chukka play was concentrated around Matangi’s gosil, the interval coming with a hit behind their goal line. The final spell found the Bay team unable to hold Matangi and the Waikato representatives carried play smartly to their opponent’s goal, where Chitty goaled. S—4. A cantor down the field brought Matangi to the attack again and Kay goaled. 9 4. Kay opened the way for another goal a minute or so later and Howlett. shot the willow home in good style. 10 —4. The game concluded'a moment later. Col. Hewitt and Mr. Riddiford were the umpires. Rangitikei “A” v. Feildihg “B.” Rangitikei "A”: I. Parsons, J. Duncan, R. McKelvie, J. G. Wilson; Feilding “B”: E. Cousins, D. Kilgour, N. J. Short, W. Stewart. The opening chukka failed to produce any form and for fully seven minutes play was characterised by considerable mis-liitting. Gathering possession from a, line-out, got away solo and goaled in effortless style. :—l-0. The chukka ended with’ a hit behind in favour of Rangitikei and from the hit-out in the second chukka the defenders failed to clear, with the result that McKelvie shot the willow up for Parsons to' shoot it homo. —2-0. Attacking the other goal Feildingwere hard-pressed and in fighting to clear, hit behind their own goal line. McKelvie took the penalty hit.and goaled beauti-fully.—3-0. . Short and. Cousins got in koine effective stick work but lack of combination spoiled their effort and the Rangitikei team, at • a : steadier pace, captured possession for .McKelvie; to open the way for Duncan to goal.—4-0. Rangitikei added two further, goals

in the third chukka when the play was all their way. Shortly after resuming, after the “breather,” Duncan, on his particularly handy mount, shot home a beautiful goal from eighty yards out. Up and downfield play ensued and then, attacking the other goal, Rangitikei comiiiitted a breach. Short took the penalty shot which was cleverly returned by Duncan and the defenders immediately set off on tho attack which ended in McKelvie goaling.—6-0. Play was all in favour of Rangitikei throughout tho fourth chukka, but the team could not find the line between the uprights and tho spell ended with a record of six hits behind. Soon after commencing the fifth chukka Feilding infringed and taking the shot from where tho foul occurred, about 100 yards out, McKelvie sent up a great hit for Wilson to goal—7-0. Play was quickly located at the top end of the field, where Duncan goaled and shortly afterwards McKelvie made tho score 9- Just before the chukka ended, Kilgour, during one of several desultry moments, gathered up the willow and narrowly missed a goal for Feilding. Duncan saved and sent the ball up tho side-line where Short redirected it to the posts, but it missed and went behind—Feilding’s first hit behind. The sixth chukka was all in favour of Rangitikei, who maintained a lengthy assault on the reds’ goal, four hits behind being registered before McKelvie found the uprights to make the score 10- It was not until the final chukka that real pace was witnessed and play became sparkling with Rangitikei showing up to advantage. The first attack was launched with lightning speed and with Rangitikei in full control a goal was inevitable. Duncan opened the way ana Parsons came in to register. Away to tho top end of the field McKelvie sent home a pretty backhander to make the score 12-0. Taking charge at tho throw-in another goal came almost immediately from a mighty stroke by McKelvie.—l3-0. A few seconds later McKelvie sent ono high in the air which just missed the post, and shortly afterwards Parsons scored to end the game 14-0 in favour of Rangitikei A. Messrs' H. Wilson and T. Sherratt were the umpires.

To-day’s matches will include the first fixture of the Handicap Cup com-petition-commencing at 11 a.m., when Hawke’s Bay C (17) will meet Feilding A (10).

Junior Cup semi-finals will be played in the afternoon as follow:—

2 p.m.: Whareania -v. Matangi B. 3,30 p.m;: Rangitikei A v. Rangiti kei B.

The following are the handicaps for the Handicap Cup competitions:— Cambridge and Hawke’s Bay A, scratch; Hawke's Bay B, Whareama, Rangitikei A and Matangi B, 9 goals each; Feilding A, 10 goals; Hawke’s Bay C, 17 goals; Rangitikei B, 23 goals; Hawke’s Bay B, 24 goals; Feilding B, 25 goals.