POLO TOURNAMENT AT WANGANUI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9460, 16 March 1894, Page 6

POLO TOURNAMENT AT WANGANUI.

'' V • 'K THIRD DAY". [BY TKLEGRAPK—PRES3 ASSOCIATION]. . l -\ ' ' Wakgan'di, Thursday. For the 1 third day of the New Zealand Polo ' Association Tournament lovely weather again prevailed, and there was a good attendance. , The. first .heat was : Rangitikei 11. (W. A. Keiller, J. " Keiller, W. B. Saunderaou. and N. Gorton) v. Manawatu I. (Baker, Williams, Sewell, and Lloyd), r The first bout, showed Manawatu on the aggressive, and they kept the ball in their Opponents' territory, and at the call of time nad scored one goal to Rangitikei's nil. lu the second bout Manawatu again forced the play, and shortly after the'opening of play managed to score another point. Ends having been Rangitikei asserted themselves, Gorton taking the ball up the field and placing it in close proximity to the goal; but Williams intercepted, and by some clever play enabled Baker to score another goal for the Manawatus.' Score: Manawatu, 3; Rangitikei, nil. No change in the score took place before , the end of . the spell. In the third bout the Rangitikei men warmed up, and the Keillers showed some splendid play, securing the first goal for their side. The rest of , the bout was in favour of Rangitikei, but no further score was obtained. The fourth bout i.gain saw ManaWatU on- the aggressive. Although Rangitikei fought hard they were not able to prevent their opponents scoring. Score : Manawatu, 4: Rangitikei, r 1. The rest of the bout was keenly played; both sides holding their own, but- Manawatu added another goal to their credit, and just prior to the call of time Rangitikei managed to get a second goal. The - heat, therefore, ended: Manawatu, 5; Raugitikei, 2. The following heat was Christchurch (A. Rhodes, H. Rhodes, Buckley, and Lance) v. Rangitikeil.(D. Riddiford, Bill, J. G. Wilson, and Blundell). Great interest centred in this match, the first-named team having won the Clip twice running. Both teams were well mounted, hut when the men were in the field it was generally noticed that the Rangitikeis were a lighter and swifter team. The opening of the play showed Rangitikei on the aggressive, their combination being very much better than their adversaries. After some very smart play on both sides, Christchurch defending all the time, Wilson gave a clever back drive at an angle and scored a goal for Rangitikei. Changing ends, the Rangitikeis defended the north goal, and Christchurch the south. Riddiford got possession of the ball at once, and by some splendid driving, and being backed up by Wilson and Bill, got the ball close to the Christchurch goal; but missed scoring, the ball going out of bounds. Starting again from the centre of the field, Heaton Rhodes got away with the ball, and made a grand attempt at goal, but missed it. After this play was confined to the corner of the field where a foul occurring thb ball was called in favour of the'Rangitikeis. Wilson put it into play, and Riddiford taking possession, passed to Bill, who, aided by Blundell, played in on to the goal, and scored another goal for Rangi.tikei. Score: Rangitikei, 2; Christchurch, 0. Christchurch then took the play, into their opponents' ground, but the score was not altered at the end of the bout. In the second bout, the Rangitikeis again kept the ball in the Christchurch territory, and a free hit having been given them, they managed to get another goal. Score : Rangitikei, 3 . Christchurch, 0. Play was resumed, and Christchurch made some great efforts to assist themselves, H. Rhodes and Lance especially showing good play. Their opponents were, however, too strong for them, and secured a fourth and a fifth goal just before the call of time : Rangitikei, 5 Christchurch, 0. In the third bout the play was more even, though the Rangitikeis added 4 goals to their score. Christchurch, however, managed to get one also. At the end of the spell the score was : Rangitikei, 9; Christchurch, 1. In the fourth bout Christchurch played a very fine game, but, though it sometimes looked as if they would score, fate was against them, the Rangitikeis adding yet another to their score. At the end of the game the score was :— Rangitikei, 10; Christchurch, 1. The final heat will be played to-morrow between Manawatu I. and the Rangitikeis.