POLO.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16405, 11 April 1924, Page 7

POLO.

TOURNAMENT CONCLUDED. YESTERDAY’S C,AMES. The Poverty Bay Polo Ciu's annual tournament was concluded yesterday afternoon at Miitawhero, when the handicap cup match was fought out. Tho adjournment- of the tournament from last week affected the attendance, and one or two of the players were unable to he present. The games, however, were keen and interesting, and. contrary to expectations, the ground was in com par ativcly good condition, although naturally too soft for comfort. The ponies were fresh and in good condition, and at limes the play was particularly fast. The weather was all that could he desired, a fail- breeze eonteracting the heat of the sun. During the afternoon mueh appreciated refreshments were served by the ladies. POVERTY BAY B. v. POVERTY BAY C.

The (irst- game was between Poverty Bay B. (white), and Poverty Bay C. (red). The formed- team was L. Fitzgerald, J. V. Smith. .]. Jobson. and (.1. M. Reynolds, while the C. team comprised C. Morrison, W. L. Holden, J. Machcll, and A. Kirkpatrick. The B team res ceived a handicap of two, the C team being on scratch. From the throw-in there- was a scramble; in mid-field, but the reds soon took charge and within a minute, Morrison had opened the scoring. Fast, up and down play ensued, there being a few good strokes, but a general tendency to over-ride Ihe ball. Tho reds continued aggressive, and a shot by Mac-hell went wide. Reynolds got- in two good strokes, and for a while the whites looked aggressive, but- Macheill cleared,, and play was taken to the other end, where Kirkpatrick scored jn.st at the end of the spell, the scores being two all.

The teams took some time to get going in the second spell, the game resolving itself into a, general scramble in the centre of the ground. The horses seemed to crowd a good deal, and the play was characterised by mishitting and fruitless rushes. Towards tho end of the spell the whites set tho pace, Reynolds, Jobson, and Smith each putting in good shots which failed to reach the objective. Mac-hell and Holden on the defensive showed up well, the latter getting in some good back-hand shots. The whites continued to attack, and ultimately Fitzgerald found the posts with a good backhand shot. Play continued more briskly, the whites having the best of it, and the end of the spell sa w them with another goal to their credit; Reynolds played the ball through from a melee on the. line, the scores being, whites 4. reds 2.

The reds attacked from the opening of the third chukka and made determined efforts to score. Holden carried the ball down with a fine stroke, but his pony interfered with the subsequent shot at goal. The advantage temporarily reverted to the whites, Reynolds sending the ball up-field for Smith to follow on and get in a good stroke, which, however, did not go far enough. Mac-hell cleared well, and Holden again made a determined effort to score, but on this occasion the ball went a few inches outside Uie posts. The chukka generally was productive of much better play, the game going up and down with great speed. Both teams were playing very we)T. but the score remained unaltered.

The final spell opened with a throw-in in the. white territory, and play remained on the far side of the field. the ball going out repeatedly. An at tank hv the whites was nullified by the ball going behind, a good attempt- by Fitzgerald being spoiled. Mncheil and Holden reversed the position of play, and Fitzgerald just came in in time to save what looked like a sure goal. The reds were still pressing, Holden being particularly aggressive. Their efforts were finally rewarded, Morrison scoring with a good shot. The remainder of the spell saw fast, open play, both sides striving hard to score, but the position remained unaltered on the call of time, the scores being : Poverty Bay B. 4 Poverty Bay C 3 POUAWA v. POVERTY BAY B. The final was between the winners of the previous match (white) and Pouawa (red), tho latter receiving a handicap of 9. Pouawa’s team was H. Dodds, T.

Holden, G. Gregory; Kirkpatrick played in the first and last- spells, M. Holden in the second, and Machell in the third. By this time the ground had been considerably cut up, and the game suffered as it result.

Spasmodic play was witnessed in the first spell, the game being fast and lively at times, and at- other times nothing more than a slow scramble. The whites had what- advantage there was, Smith and Reynolds being prominent, but without succeeding in scoring. Now and then the reds showed a good deal of dash, Dodds and Gregory leading in attack. The whites seemed to have but a poor opportunity of wiping off their opponents’ substantial handicap. From tho opening of the second chukka the game improved. Smith secured from the throw-in, and although be took the ball to the .goal mouth he failed to score. Machell relieved, and Dodds got going only to be stopped by Smith, who again sot his side attacking. The game went ut> and down once or twice before the whites again looked dangerous, and this time Jobson placed the bail accurately, thus opening the whites’ tally. The reds controlled the game for a brief space, but Reynolds cleared, and transferred to Fitzgerald, who put the ball behind. The whites were still attacking strenuously when the spell ended, (he scores being Pouawa 9, Poverty Bay

The whites continued to iittack from the opening of the third ehiikka. Smith and Fitzgerald were playing well together. and within a few seconds both struck the post with good shots. Tin* attack was maintained, however, and shortly after their efforts were rewarded. Smith scoring from a scramble in front- of the goal. From the throw-in the whites continued to press at, a great, pace, amd had carried the ball to the goal line when play was interrupted by a spill. M. Holden and Fitzgerald were racing towards the goal at full speed. Fitzgerald just- swerved round the post- and met Holden coming from the other direction. The horses collided, and both riders went down and were thrown some distance. They were on their feet, however, within a few seconds, and play was resumed. Once only during the chukka did the reds become aggressive, but although the whites maintained the, pressure no further score resulted, and the spell ended—Pouawa. 9, Poverty Bay 2. During the opening stages of the final chukka. the .reds repeated the play of the previous spell, maintaining a steady pres-

sure on their opponents goal without scoring. Reynolds, Smith, and J'itzgerald made several attempts to .score, but although the ball crossed the line a number of times nothing resulted. Inwards tho end of the chukka the reds made an attempt, and a good shot by Holden went- wide. They re-turned to the attack, and just when he had an open field Holden losl his stick. Dodds, however, maintained the advantage, and Holden came hack just in time to score as time was called, the final scores being : l.’ouawa ... ... ••• 19 Poverty Bav It. ... 2

Subsequently the two cups were pre sented to the winning teams. In congratulating tho teams on their, play, Mr. Richard Sherratt urged f'ne importance of more consistent practice. The- teams, he said, should play rnon- regularly, and strive at improving their form with the object- of going away and winning the Saville -Cup. I’overty Bay had won (he cup on two previous occasions and I here, was no reason why they should not do it again. He wished particularly to congratulate Mr. Maclu-11. the captain of the winners of the open cup. for his work as secretary. Had it not been for hi? energy and enthusiasm polo would not have been maintained in the Bay as it had been.— (Applause). Three cheers were then given for Mr. Machcll.

In replying, Mr. Machell said the success of his team was due- to the manner in which the members had practised. Practice was everything, and he agreed with Mr. Sherratt’s remarks that, the Bay was capable of producing a team to win the SavilloCup. Mr. F. E. (laddum then presented tliecup to Mr. Machell. and the handicap cup to Mr. Dodds. captain of the Pouawa, team, both teams being heartily cheered.

Mr. Dodds expressed his appreciation of tho assistance given to Pouawa players bv local men. Next year they hoped to get a strong combination together and to give a better account of themselves.