POLO.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16748, 15 March 1926, Page 2

POLO.

HAMILTON v. HAWKE'S BAY. Owing to improvements at Claudelands the Hamilton Polo Club has been compelled to wind up, and Hamilton players had not played since December | IP, and two players had never put a leg in the saddle until the meeting | with Hawke's Hay A at Fcilding this week. Nevertheless, they put up a good performance. The Fcilding paper says of the games:— . Hawke's Bay A v. Hamilton. This game opened briskly and three minutes after opening Lyons registered the first goal, although not as easily as it might read. Hamilton offered a ijcal of opposition. A few moments later Ihe game was stopped owing to Ranstcau* putting his shoulder out. Medical attention soon rectified the trouble, and the spell was continued with Raristead, who was unaffected. The spell ended without further score. Hamilton (red) offered more opposition in the second spell. Later some crossing by the whites passed unnoticed, and the. reds continued their vigorous opposition, which was aided by their nippy ponies. Again, in the second spell the Waikato visitors left nothing to chance, and the more practised Hawke's Bay players found all their elTort.s frustrated. The whites again obstructed, which passed unnoticed, although the reds should have received an advantage. Following this, W. McKenzie scored, although Chilly made an effort to check the willow. The fourth spell opened with the score three —nil in favour of the whites, who in the first minute a(.ded another goal through the sole clTort of Fred. Mackenzie. The nexl score *or the whites came from W. Mackenzie, senior, who overcame the opposition by the speed of his mount. The reds were having a great deal of bad luck in their play,, having to contend with general shots striking their horses, and also with occasions arising when they had to check their ponies. The game became somewhat disappointing owing to this feature ot the play. Ranstead was an outstanding player for the reds, and his shots were the means of troubling Hawke's Ray considerably. The early stages of the sixth spell saw another palpable cross by Hawke's Bay which was passed unnoticed. The rods fought well in defending their goal. The final ehukka saw the reds make a determined effort to score, individual effort combining to out-manoeuvre Hawke's Bay who attacked with vigour. Six behinds were recorded by Hawke's Hay before Campbell succeeded in putting on the seventh and last goal. Hawke's Bay (15) v. Hamilton (17). Very fast play characterised the. opening spell of the match, Hawke's Ray (9)—Hamilton (12), the latter team being in possession right up lo the moment, of time, when .1. E. Chilly scored. Hawke's Hay had somewhat the belter of the second ehukka, in which the players scored three behinds, and the spell ended without a score being, registered. Speed was well maintained in the third ehukka, and much pretty stick work was witnessed. W. Mackenzie picked up a back-handcr of Pountuey's in flight, and later Russell got away, enabling "Willie" Mackenzie to score. The reds (Hamilton), mounted on speedy ponies quickly replied. Pountney got away with a hit of Ranstead, and the latter sent the willow home. Pountney and Chitty were on the way to scoring early' in the fourth ehukka, but the former was robbed of his shot by a cross, in which a Hawke's Bay rider nearly came down. The whites pressed at the moment and secured a behind, but J. E. Chitty sent home a goal. The fifth spell commenced with the secrc 15 —9 in favour of the Waikato team, and after some very fast galloping. J. E. Chitty back-handed to enable Pountney lo score. The goal at the other end of the ground was then attacked and the speed of the Hamilton ponies was too great for the whites. They were not playing the game they did earlier in the week. A behind for Hawke's Bay followed. The whites caught the reds napping in the sixth spell and got away, enabling Russell to score. Pountney replied with a p-.'ctly goal, directed from a narrow angle. Whites battled hard to get the supremacy of the spell and from sound, skilful play around the reds' line, Russell shot and the goal made the score 17 —12 In favour of Hamilton. Reds,were penalised at the end of th-j spell for hitting behind their own goal and the Whites exacted the penalty at the opening of the last cnukka, when one of the reds scored for the whiles in the struggle between the posts. Russell got away after three of the whiles iiad missed the ball overcame V. Chitty's defence and scored. "Roddy" Mackenzie put on the next, goal for the whites in very (|uick time, and the match concluded with the Waikato representatives the winners by 17 goals to 15. Hawke's H;,y hit J 4 behinds against 4 behinds — thanks to ihc accurate hitting of the Hamilton four. Col. Ncilson was the umpire.