POLO

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4307, 16 March 1901, Page 5

POLO

VICTORIA v. NEW ZEALAND. THE VISITORS DEFEATED. A large number of people witnessed the match Victoria v. New Zealand, played at Miramar yesterday. The day was beautifully fine, the ground in firstclass order, and all the ponditions were favourable to a really first-class exposition of the game. The contest was a hard, fast, and exciting one throughout, the visitors playing with great dash and combination, but having the worst of the luck, just to score on several occasions. Victoria was represented by Messrs R. A. D. Hood (captain), K Manifold, and 0. and Gr. Robertson, The Oroua team represented New and consisted of Messrs Allan Strang (captain), W. and J. Strang, and J. O. Robinson. Mr R, A. Affleck umpired for Victoria, and Mr Sydney! Williamson for New Zealand.

The home representatives opened with a great dash towards their opponents’ goal. Victoria repelled the attack, and transferred into the New Zealand end of the field, but J. Strang replied with a vigorous and sustained run, and taking the ball right down the field, scored within a few minutes of the starting'of tbp game. Later on in the spell New Zealand got a free hit for penalty in centrefield, and a fine hit by the Oroua captain was smartly followed up, with the result that after a bit of a scrimmage in front of goal, another score'was notched hy the Orouas on behalf of New Zealand. Towards the end of the Second spell the Victorians got their opponent's into a tight corner, and, by wonderful oomhined play, kept the ball centred till a favourable opportunity) occurred, and then snicked it in and scored. New Zealand 2; Victoria I.

The third spell opened auspiciously for New Zealand, a combined dashing rush . coming off, and landing a goal almost before the game had been thoroughly resumed. Liter on, by a desperate rally, they shot the ball between the posts just before the call of time—New Zealand, 4; Victoria, 1.

Shortly after the opening of the fourth spell Manifold got away with the ball, and ended up a splendid series of short hits by rapping the willow in, mid behind. New Zealand, 4; Victoria, 2=. In the fifth spell there was no store,' but in the sixth Colin Robertson, taking advantage of a promising opening, managed to break the defence, and scored after a brilliant run through—New Zealand, 4; Victoria, 3. Thus the game ended, as far as the score was concerned, though the visitors endeavoured to the very last to get oven with their opponents and: equalise or win the game. The contest as a whole was a splendid and sportsmanlike exposition of polo. The visitors had, perhaps, a trifle the best of the mounting, some of the New Zealand ponies being and hardly up to the pace set by the visitors.