POLO SUCCESSES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19582, 14 March 1938, Page 3

POLO SUCCESSES

TOURNEY CONCLUDES OPEN WON BY P.B. (A) CHALLENGE CUP TO H.B. (Humid CoiTuspoiiduiit.) Form displayed on the closing day of the Poverty Bav P.olo Club’s open tournament was even better than that shown in the previous two days of Ihe fixture, and the final match between Poverty Buy A and Hawke's Bay A was a revelation of the talent available in the two districts. In the last match, on which rested Ihe open championship and the Handicap Challenge Cup, the Poverty Bav team had to concede live goals to their opponents, and were beaten 3 —6. The game was spirited and fast, and kepi the spectators at a high pitch of excitement. The attendance on Saturday afternoon was the largest yet seen at a polo fixture in Poverty Bay, and the interest displayed augured well for the future of the clbb and the sport generally. Scorers for Poverty Bay A were T. Gaddum, B. McKenzie, and A. Kirkoatrick; while the Hawke’s Bay goal was scored by Lyons.

Poverty Bay C (handicap 9) lost to Hawke's Bay B (handicap 8), by 10 goals to HI, B. Hale registering the vnly score for the home side, The personnel of the team in this match was.—Hawke’s Bay: T. Robson, B. Symes, D. McHardy, and E. Ormond Poverty Bay C: B. Black, T. Witters W. Gaddum' and. B. Hale.

Poverty Bay 13 (handicap 5) lost te Wangaheia A (handicap 5) by seven goals to nine. D. Reynolds and Gregory scored Cor the losers, and Crowley (2), Donnelly, and W. Mckenzie for the winners.

Prior to the presentation of trophies by Mrs. G. M. Reynolds, her husband, president of the club, congratulated the players on the standard of polo seen throughout the tournament. The interest taken in the fixture had been most gratifying, he said, but more gratifying still was the fact that the matches had been characterised by good feeling, and that both incidents and accidents had been conspicuous by their absence from the tournament. Mr. Reynolds commented on the improvement in the annual polo gatherings in this district, and expressed he club’s indebtedness to the Hawke’s Bay club for sending its official representatives to Poverty Bay after a lapse'of 2(5 years. He urged young players to study both the rules and tactics of the game, a full knowledge of which would minimise risks and improve prospects for the individual and for his team.

Presentation of Trophies

The presentation of the Open Championship Cup to the Poverty Bay A team, comprising G. Gaddum, T. Gaddum, B. McKenzie and A. Kirkpatrick, captain, was followed by that of the Handicap Challenge Trophy to the Hawke’s Bay A team, T. Robson, B. Symes, D. McHardy and E. Ormond, captain. Mutual compliments were exchanged by the captains of the two teams, and Mr. Ormond expressed the hope that Poverty Bay teams would compete at the Hawke’s Bay tournament next month.

At a complimentary dinner tendered to visiting players by the Poverty Bay Polo Club on Saturday evening, there was a large gathering of past and present players, the attendance numbering about 50. Mr. G. M. Reynolds presided, and occasion was taken to refer to the manner "in which the game had been kept alive in Hawke's Bay through the efforts of Messrs. J. Lyons and IT. Gatenby, to whom due honour was done in the course of an interesting toast-list. Responding to his health, Mr. Lyons offered some sound advice to young players, and to players generally. Ho emphasised the wisdom of playing the game for the game's sake, and not for the development and sale of ponies. Good ponies, lie declared, were an outstanding asset to any district, and he urged those who had good types of mounts to keep the interests of their club in the forefront.