SAVILLE CUP POLO

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19894, 23 March 1939, Page 6

SAVILLE CUP POLO

HAWKE’S BAY CHAMPIONS DECISIVE VICTORY (Pur Press Association.) FEILDING, this day. Saville Cup games at the New Zealand polo tournament at Feilding were concluded yesterday afternoon, with no doubt existing as to the team entitled to hold the championship of New Zealand for a year. Hawke’s Bay decisively defeated Rangitikei by seven goals to two. The game was fast from start to finish, with Rangitikei for the most part setting the pace. In these tactics they erred, for the experience and skill of the Hawke’s Bay men allowed them to hold the defence, and the opportunity came, as frequently it did, to swing into attack with lightning speed, which invariably caught Rangitikei out of position. Straight hitting did thfe rest. The vigour of the younger Rangitikei players held to tile end, but against the rock-like defence ol' the veteran F. McKenzie their attacks broke down. They failed also to avail themselves of the opportunities presented owing to inaccurate goal-hitting. This was in striking contrast to the Hawke’s Bay men, particularly J. McKenzie, who played a great game. Within two minutes of starting, Hawke’s Bay goaled and, despite two penalty hits at goal later, Rangitikei was unable to open its account. Two more goals were added by the Bay in the next chukka, R. McKenzie shooting both. Rangitikei scored at the opening of the third chukka, but play was scarcely in progress again when the Bay found an opening in the defence and scored twice in succession, adding the sixth goal just at the close of the chukka. The second goal to Rangitikei came in the fourth chukka after fast play which was repeated in the fifth chukka, the pace being at ve gallop all through, ending whb f ha scores unchanged. The sixth chukka was also scoreless, but the final one saw Bay add the seventh goal.

Following exciting play in the Handicap Cup match, Hawke’s Bay B (12) defeated Cambridge (1) by 14 goals to 6.