Polo.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5211, 19 March 1895, Page 4

Polo.

SAVILLE CUP TOURNAMENT. The annual competition for the Saville Cup began on the ground of the Christchurch Polo Club/jSagley Park, yesterday afternoon, when the game, set down for decision was Chriatchurch First against Auckland. The afternoon, although fine, wbb nob favourable for play, and a Btrong, cold wind, blowing right along the ground, gave a considerable advantage to the defenders of the eastern, goal. There was a large attendance of the public, including many ladiee, and the utmost intereflt.was manifested in the proceedings. The Christchurch team were strong favourites at the commencement. of the. game, but the Auckland men displayed so .much dash in the first spell that they at once won many friends. . The visitors did not experience the best of .Jack, and were scarcely so well mounted,, as, .their opponents, bub they made a capital struggle for victory, and the final score hardly represents the respective strength of the two teams. The following were the players :=— Chriat6huroh.Firat— No. l,EiW.,Paiker j No. 2, B. L. Lane; No. 8, B. H. Rhodes j No. 4, G. Palmer. " Auckland— No. 1,,-B. Wynyard; No. 2, H. Tonks;.No. 3,,E. : D. D'Eorke; No. 4, W. E. Bloomfield. The Chriatchurch team won the toss, and, of courae, elected to take advantage of the strong wind, but directly play.com: menced Auckland carried the ball right through their opponents and O'Eorke hit a goal. .After the team 3 ohanged enda the game, for a short time. was slow, neither side sb owing any very brilliant play, but, ultimately the « Christchurob men got j away, md Bhodes hit a clever goal. Alinoßt immediately _.affcer the ; ball was thrown in again. O'Eorke received a nasty blow on the face, and for the remainder of tbe afternoon played very pluckily under a great disadvantage. Ehodes and Lane now showed some capital play for the home team, and twice hit the ball close past their opponents' goal,- fauiat half-time the score stood unaltered at one goal eaoh. On resuming, a good ruah by Auckland took the ball right down the ground, but no go*l resulted; and Lane, by a grand run, relievedihiß Bide and finally sent the ball between the posts and secured the second goal for Christchurch. Some good fast play ensued, and the first spell ended with the score— Christchurch 2, Auckland 1. The second spell was opened w ith some brilliant . play . on . both ,sides ; j but the ball hanging for a moment near the Auckland goal, Parker carried it through and secured a third goal for Chriatchurch.. From the throw-in the game was fast, and .just .at half-time Parker hit another goal for Chriatchuroh, making the score-r-Chjiatchuroh .4, Auck,l. On continuing play Tonks put in some .very useful work for Auckland^ and being well backed up by Wynyaid, secured a second goal for Auckland. Borne good exchanges followed, the ball being knocked out several times, but neither Bide obtained any advantage, and at the end of the Becond spell the game stood — Chriatchurch .4 gcals, Auckland^. The last spell opened with some capital runs, the Auckland men straining every nerve to avert defeat, but the luck was now decidedly against thtm, and just before half-time Lane, by a pretty piece of play.ibrought the score to Caristchurch 5, Auckland ;2. On resuming tba game became faster than ever, ToDks and O'Eorke putting in seme splendid work for the northerners, and Lane and Parker responding with a succession of dashing and well-Bustained runs. The Chriatchurch men at last got on an irresistible rush, and Lane carrying the ball along in brilliant style, secured another goal for Chriatchurch and brought the aeora to Chribtchurch 6, Auckland 2, where it stood when time was called.

The sports of the Chriatchurch Polo Club will ba held at the Eiccarton Eacecouree on Saturday. There are nine eventß on the card, and entries will close with the honorary Secretary, Mr Q. Gould, at 10 p.m. today. A special train will leave Christchurch for the course at 1.15 p.m. Tho gathering will have unusual interest this year, on account of the fact that the ponies of seven outside teams will ba competing. ■-, ■