SAVILE POLO SHIELD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 69, 23 March 1939, Page 8

SAVILE POLO SHIELD

HAWKES BAY WINS RANGITIKEI BEATEN BY SEVEN ■ TO TWO. I Per Pre.-. Association. I FEILDING, March 22. Savile Cup games at the New Zealand polo tournament at Feilding concluded this afternoon with no doubt existing as to the team entitled to hold the championship of New Zealand for the year, Hawkes Bay decisively beating Rangitikei by seven goals to two. T/e game was fast from start io 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 when opportunity came, as it frequently did. to swing to the attack with lightning speed which invariably caught Rangitikei out of position. Straight hitting did the rest. The vigour of the younger Rangitikei players held to the end, but against a rocklike defence by the veteran F. McKenzie, their attacks broke down. They failed also to avail themselves of opportunities presented owing to inaccurate goal hitting. This was in striking contrast to the Bay men, particularly J. McKenzie, who played a great game. Within two minutes of starting the ’Bay goaled. and. despite two penalty hits at goal later, Rangitikei was -unable to open its account. Two more goals were added to the ’Bay score in the next chukka. R. McKenzie shooting both. Rangitikei scored at the opening of the third chukka, but play was hardly in progress again when the ’Bay found an opening in the defence and scored twice in succession, adding the sixth 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 a gallop all through, ending with the scores unchanged. The sixth chukka was also scoreless, but the final one saw the 'Bay add the seventh goal, following exciting play. In the handicap cup match Hawke's Bay B (121 beat Cambridge (1) bv 14 goals to ssc.