POLO MATCH AND SPORTS AT NOARUAWAHIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10664, 31 January 1898, Page 3

POLO MATCH AND SPORTS AT NOARUAWAHIA.

At the invitation of the Waingaro Polo Club (Ngaruawahia) a team from the Auckland Polo Club visited Waingaro on Friday last and played a friendly! match with the local I club, also remaining over Saturday and participating in the sports conducted by the Waingaro and Ngaruawahia Clubs.' . ,•/ . ni. ' . THE PLAY. • :-^V by ;—! competing teams were represented Auckland : Messrs. O. E. Purchas(l), H.' Gordon'!!) M - Wynyard (3), and W. W««*mos Messrs B. Hewitt (1), H. Bull t< (2), 11. Stephenson (3), and A. Upton (4). ■ v V Mr. J. S. Harrison,- a , member of the ttarrengate fWanganui) Polo Club, and a well-known player, acted as referee, tlie game' being played m three spells of 20 minutes each, with achanpe of ponies every 10 minutes The game proved fast, and the play of the WaingaroClubprovedconsiderablyinadvance of what had been expected by the visitors, seeing that this was tho first contest with an outside club, the sound knowledge of the' game shown being in no small measure attributable to the coaching of the gentleman who acted as referee, and who has spent some time in bringing tho country team on. The game resulted iii a win for the visitors by seven goals to four, the individual play being good throughout. The ground was somewhat small, aud the turf by no means as smooth as might have been wished, these 1 militating against a really good galloping game, as the ball frequently ran out of bounds. The Waingoio players intend coming to town to play a return match, and with the improvement they may bo expected in tho interim should then give a good account of themselves. On tho Friday evening tho Waingaro and Ngaruawahia clubs entertained the visitors to a banquet at Smith's Hotel, the captain of the homo team (Mr. Hewitt) in the chair. There was a largo attendance, and what with toasts, speeches, : and interpolated musical items, a . most enjoyable time was spent. •

THE SPORTS AND RACES. . On Saturday the combined clubs held a ; 't. series of sports and races, which were largely. ' attended by tho friends and relatives of tho poloiats, those present including qnito a number of ladies. Tho various events proved both entertaining and interesting to the on- • lookers, and were decidedly well contested. The results are as under . Bending competition (in three. heats)* Final— C. Tonks's Makarau 1, B. Hewitt's '' Ken 2. ' ,:/r,.

I Hurdle Race (six started): H. C. Tonks's General Mite 1, H. Wilson's Clara (ridden by J. S. Harrison) 2. > Polo Ball Race (in three heats): Final— Gordon 1, H. C. '.tonka 2. Polo Cup. - Six furlongs.' ConditionsMaximum weight, 12st71b; minimum weight, JJst 71b : weight for inches. Ten started: H. C. Tonks's General Mite, list 71b, 1 • C E. Purchas's Clianco If, 12at 71b. 2: R~ Seavill's Darkie, 3. Ladies' Bracelet (twelve competed), run.ia three heats: Final-W. Gordon's Junket, nominated by Miss Perciyal, 1: H. C, Tonks'a Makarau, nominated by Mrs. Tonks, 2; J. S. Harrison Sunbeam, nominated by' Miss Hewitt, 3. / Tug of War (on bareback ponies): Five teams competed, the final tug being won by the Hot Springs team, with Waingarosecond. llie pull was a splendid one, lasting some 10 or 15 minutes, when Hot Springs just succeeded in getting the rope across the line. Tandem Race : Won by P. O'Brady's team, Warryand Nellie. Consolation Race, catch weights, four. furlongs, for all beaten ponies: A good 'field competed, the race being won by 0. E. Parchas s Chance It, E. G. Elliott's Rangiora second \

The Auckland team returned on Saturday evening, reaching town about midnight. The railway authorities showed every attention to the visiting team, providing a special carriage for the players, and taking every care of the; ponies during the run up and back.