SPLENDID POLO

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19891, 20 March 1939, Page 10

SPLENDID POLO

TOURNAMENT ENDS PLAY AT BUSHMERE TOM GADDUM'S BRILLIANCE Polo of a very high standard was witnessed by a large crowd at Bushmere on Saturday afternoon, when the final games in the Poverty Bay Polo Club's open tournament were played. The pavilion side of the ground was well lined with cars, while many spectators were gathered at the pavilion and in the time-keep-ers' shelter. The highlight of the afternoon's play was the meeting of Poverty Bay A and B teams in the final of the Open Cup. The A team, which competed with distinction at the recent Hawke's Bay provincial tournament, took the honours in this section by a clear-cut margin, but both teams gave displays which should set a standard difficult to attain again locally for some time. The A's were the winners by four goals to nil. The R. J. Reynolds Cup, a handicap event, was won by Poverty Bay D from a handicap of 14 goals. Play in this game lacked the finesse and combination shown in the open game, which was played later. The game was inclined to be of the bustling variety, both teams being somewhat lacking in combination. The C team opened with two goals in the first chukka and scored a third in the fourth to bring their tally, plus their 10 handicap, to 13, but goals scored in the third and fifth chukkas gave the D team, handicapped at 14, a three-goal margin. R. Sherratt, the C team's No. 1, was the outstanding player for his team and gave a very fine display in which he scored two goals,,the first from an excellent back-hand shot early in the first chukka. W. Gaddum was also prominent for the losers. For the winning team, P. Murphy and B. Hale played well, with Walker giving excellent support. The C team appeared to have the edge a little on their opponents, although the winners had the best of the final chukka. The teams were:—Poverty Bay D (14 goals): L. Walker, P. Murphy, 11. Williams, and B. Hale. Poverty Bay C (10 goals): R. Sherratt. W. Gaddum. R. Bruce and T. Witters. Better Display Polo of a different class was seen in the Open Final, which brought together the Poverty Bay A and B teams, both playing from scratch. Ti teams displayed good combination and there was a marked absence of useless hitting. The strong A team took the honours jn this game after a display worthy of the palmy days of the sport. Gaddum Brilliant Claims that Tom Gaddum is one of the finest players seen locally for many years were more than substantiated by his display on this occasion, his brilliance being a feature of the ,'amc. He was the spearhead of the majority of the attacks launched by the A team and was a constant menace to the defence of the B team's players. He opened the game with two glorious solo dashes in the early

staees o£ the first ehukka and maintained his form throughout the sly ehukka® contested. Little inferior to Gaddum was wyri Sherratt, who scored the first goal ot the game in the first two minutes oi the first ehukka. Solid support was offered in the play of G. Gaddum and R. Reynolds. Two goals down at the end or tne third ehukka, the B team fought narri to the bitter end but the Blue tide was too hard to stem and at the end of the sixth and final ehukka they were four goals down. A wealtn of experience in many a hard fought struggle stood in good stead to S. Kirkpatrick at No. 4 for the losers and he was the rock on which many n Blue rush foundered. His defence was sound throughout, while he was no sluggard on attack. J, .Tobson was also a pillar of strength to the losing team, a quartette of hard-fighting players vanquished by a team which, on the Hay, rose to great heights. Scorers for the winners were W Sherratt, two goals, G. Gaddum, one goal, and T. Gaddum, one goal. The teams were:-—Poverty Bay A (Blue): G. Gaddum, R. Reynolds, T. Gaddum, and W. Sherratt. Poverty Bay B (Red): G. Gregory, B. McKenzie, .T. Jobson, and S. Kirkpatrick. Both games were umpired by Messrs. G. M. Reynolds and J. Monckton, the former presenting the trophies at the conclusion of the Open Final.