POLO TOURNAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17326, 11 February 1928, Page 9

POLO TOURNAMENT

CONCLUSION OF PLAY. THREE CUPS DECIDED. WINS TO MATANGI, CAMBRIDGE AND TE MATA. The provincial polo tournament, which commenced at the grounds of the Matangi Club on Monday morning, was concluded yesterday afternoon. Ideal weather was experienced during the live days of the tournament which was excellently managed and the play of which will do much to popularise a fine game in these parts. Matangi A won the Provincial Cup, Cambridge A retained the Handicap Cup, while Te Mata annexed the Junior Cup. Matangi and Te Mata are new clubs and their successes will prove a further incentive to progress in the game.

THE HANDICAP CUP. RETAINED BY CAMBRIDGE A. GOOD GAME WITH FEILDING. The morning game yesterday was the final of the Handicap Gup between Cambridge A, the holders (handicap 12 goals), and Feilding (handicap 10 goals). The teams were: — Cambridge: R. G. Blennerhausett, M. Garland, W. Fisher, A. Fisher. Feilding: N. Short, R. McKelvie, W. Stewart, W. Levin. Cambridge quickly opened their scoring account, A. Fisher putting the bail through. Feilding attacked on. the change over and Cambridge were twice ruled against for infringement. From the second McKelvie had a shot but it failed. A nice combined movement which Garland opened up from neutral territory carried play quickly to the visitors’ line where the second goal was put on. Cambridge continued aggressive until the close of t ie chukka. A Goal to the Visitors. The visitors advanced from the hrt off of the second session. Levin ran tlie bail through to the goal front and Short topped off the movement. Garland led his team down the side line for A. Fisher to centre and W. Fisher to put on the third goal for Cambridge. The players were making few mistakes at this sLage. Garland led his men into the visitors’ territory hut Stewart held them up and play was at the centre when the belt rang to close a very even period of play. A. Fisher led off with a good run in the third chukka but Levin checked the movement. A. Fisher again came into the picture hut a behind terminated the effort. Blennerhassett led up o.n the hit out and with a neat hack hander finished Hie movement effectively. The game came level (1< all) when Garland put the bu.i through for Cambridge in a quick drive. A Scoreless Session.

In the fourth chukka there were manv excellent rallies by both teams. A particularly smart piece of work Jiv Levin placed the Cambridge line in serious danger but the final shot was a little short and Blennerhassett came round and cleared. Feilding were in a tight corner when the bell rang and gave them relief. It was a scoreless session. . Blennerhassett put Cambridge m the lead before the fifth chukka was far on its way. Cambridge made it two goals up when A. Fisher drove right through the defence following tire resumption of play. Garland and \ Fisher headed a subsequent movement that had Feilding in trouble hut the defence stood the lest. Garlanc failed to clear c shot right at his goal front and, after a scramble, Levin put the hall through. This was Gilding’s second goal. The play continued very even until the bell.

McKelvie’s Great Breakaway.

Short got Feilding clear in the early part of the sixth chukka with a good run to midfield but A. Fisher brought play back. Short .was again on the job with support from McKelvie hut Cambridge checked the advance before it got really dangerous. it was then Feilding’s turn for defence but the visitors escaped with a behind. McKelvie registered one of tvs o great runs of the match and with five forceful strokes carried the play from his line to the Cambridge goal but the attempt to get the ball between th posts was a little wide. Tins was the best polo of the contest.

Garland’s Long Run.

With the margin only one goal m favour of Cambridge when the final chukka was entered on, the game.was at an interesting point. l<cildiu o attacked early but Garland led his into foreign ground with a ian run of fast and clean hitting, to-arland got in five shots for the ball to hal a few vards from the goal Thtro were several ineffective hits by hot plavcrs in the subsequent me ce l ut it terminated in another goal to Cambridge. It was well merited o make sure of the situation A Hishir put on another inside the next minute and the game ended— Cambridge A 21 goals Fcilding 18 S oal9 A[r vf Spence was umpire. The polo was of a good standard in the middle stages of the game. 1? eliding gave their best display of the tournament but they found Cambridge just a shade too solid a combination.

JUNIOR CUP FINAL. THE TROPHY GOES TO TE IVIATA. 4 —l VICTORY OVER MATANGI B. Te Mata, a newly formed club, took out the honours in the Junior Cup against Matangi B. The teams were: — Te Mata: J. Chitty, G. McQueen, W. Phillips, R. Hinton. Matangi R: W. Ranslead, It. nanstead, W. J. Taylor, C. Clarkin. Minton was substituted lor Moore in the Te Mata Learn, the latter having been injured by a fall in one of the earlier games. The opening chukku was slightly in Matangi's favour, lull, there was only one occasion on which Lliey actually goL within striking distance, a behind being recorded. The play was kept close, in the early stages of the second session, Matangi still having the principal portion of the attack. Te Mata gradually worked within striking distance of Matangi’s goal but could uot drive in

the effective shot. R. Ranstead and Clarkln were the principals in getting their side clear and Te Mata had to ride back hurriedly to save their lines, Ghibty stopping well at his goal mouth. Phillips and McQueen led their team into foreign territory where they were when the bell rang. It was nearly two minutes after the signal before the ball reached the touch and permitted the three minutes’ interval to be taken. The Lines Still Intact. The third hhukka started with Tc Mata having the territorial advantage which they were determined not to relinquish readily. R. Ranstead and Taylor led Matangi out into the open country and on towards the line where a behind was recorded. Phillips brought his men back to midfield but Clarkin was not willing for the respite to be lengthy. Chitty, .with sure hitting, drove Matangi back to midfield but Te Mata could not progress further. Taylor was playing judiciously and materially aiding his team’s attack. Open play and hard riding by Te Mata saw them get their first entry for some time Into Matangi’S territory, but W. Ranstead was equal to the demands. Play held about midfield for some time and the lines were still intact as the session ended. Tc Mata were the first to show ascendancy in. the fourth chukka. McQueen followed up an opening by Chitty and Hinton, got in good hits birt missing his third, W. Raustcad cleared and R. Ranstead carried on the movement. Te Mata came hack, a shot by Chitty going behind. Tavlor and Clarkin headed a return rush hut Chitty stayed progress. The latter brought play across the field near the centre, Hinton picking the hall up and .with McQueen in support the latter iluisheti off the movement— Te Mata 1 6°al Matangi n ii In t'he fifth session Matangi advanced promptly and Taylor put the hall through to even matters. McQueen effected a clearance when Matangi were on the attack and the play entered home quarters. W. Ranslead, Clarkin and Taylor took the attack along in succession hut Phillips and McQueen checked the movement. Taylor continued to get in good work while McQueen was equally prominent on the other side. Phillips cleared hut lost his slick and could not follow up the initial effort. Play centred and as the bell rang Hinton dashed into action along the side line. The hall centred and McQueen took possession to hit a good goal under his horse. — Te Mata 2 goals Matangi 1 goal Te Mata got a good goal in the sixth chukka. After a short term of defence, Phillips broke clear and with good support from McQueen and Hinton the defence did not prove equal to the requirements. In a following movement in which Hinton and Chitty figured the latter forced a behind. Following a free hit Te Mata pressed at the goal mouth and Phillips put home the fourth shot. There were some brisk exchanges in a scoreless seventh chukka and the final scores were. — , Te Mata 4 goals Matangi B 1 goal Mr C. J. Polls (Cambridge) was the umpire.

THE PROVINCIAL TITLE

ANNEXED BY MATANGI A. NEW CLUB’S GOOD VICTORY. The tournament was concluded .with the contest for the Provincial Cup between Matangi A and the holders, Waihou A. The teams w'ere:— Matangi A: V. Chitty, R. Townsend, G. Ranstcad, J. Shaw. Waihou A: E. Aislabie, A. McNicol, T. Hines, J. Wight. Matangi were the aggressors in the opening stages, G. Ranstcad registering a brilliant run from midfield and with Shaw in support the play travelled right to Waihou’s line where the final hit was a little off the line.' Waihou set up some spirited retaliating movements but a free was given against them for crossing. The shot, taken in front of Waihou’s goals, hit a defending horse. Shaw then back handed across the goal front and Chitty put the ball through with a clean hit. The Second Goes On. In (he second chukka Matangi opened the attack, Ranslead driving towards the goal. In his effort to clear MoNicol hit behind and the team suffered a penalty, but Matangi’s shot at goal went behind. Keeping up the pressure Matangi were rewarded with their second goal. Hines led his team down fast from midfield and Waihou got a free hit but McNicol’s shot encountered a pony. Hines, a little later, had a clear goal but lie failed to connect and a golden opportunity was lost. Ranstcad and Townsend were prominent in the early stages of Matangi’s clearing effort and Shaw came in later to improve the. situation. It was another session of keen play. The third chukka found Matangi the first to press but Hines and Aislabie contributed principally to turning them out. Matangi were not long in returning, Shaw, Townsend and Chitty doing well at this stage. The speedy mounted McNicol changed the scene of operations to midfield, but Townsend checked the advance and Shaw, who was next on the ball, lifted it well into foreign territory. McNicol was again a factor buL Chilly halted the invaders with a smart back band shot. Waihou were not to be denied, however, and McNicol drove in their first goal in short order. It continued to be sparkling polo, first one side and then the other being on the ball. After the bell rang Shaw took the hall towards the visitors’ goal where lie over-rode it. Ranstcad liad an opportunity hut lie did not connect. Play was carried on until two minutes after the bell. Fast, Clean Work. Waihou were the aggressors entering the fourth chukka but Townsend picked the ball up cleanly. Shaw followed the movement with .clean hitting but be was a little over-strong. Shaw, who is only a second year player and particularly promising, was again a feature, in the attack which gave Waihou an anxious time. .McNicol was prominent in play which got his team past half-way but Chilly checked the advance in good style. Then Matangi had I heir I urn, only for McNicol and 1 linos lo lead Waihou onl. Chitty met die advance surely. Wight shone up in Ihe following play. From this out to Ihe end Ihe polo was exhilarating, tils crowd being keenly excited. At was four minutes aflcr Ihe bell before. Ihe ball wen! out and the halt came. It was a scoreless

session of fast, clean work by men and ponies.

A Goal After the Bell. <

With the fifth entered on and the odd goal in the three Matangi’S way the game was still of tense interest. Townsend broke - through the centre, but McNlcol checked him on the backhand. Chrtty failed to pick up and Wight seized the opening. ‘Hines cut a hall nicely and Walbou swept towards the home goal but the advance ended behind. Shaw gave the cue to Ranstead but Hines turned the hall back at midfield. Matangi continued to make progress but Hines again came to the rescue and the play was hack as the bell rang. Playing on Townsend hit downfleld. Ranstead picked up and with two nice shots the hall faced Waihou’s goal where Townsend rode in and sealed the movement. It was a fine piece of play.

Matangi A 3 goals Waihou A 1 goal

Ranstead picked up from the throwin to commence operations in the sixLh but open play by Waihou relieved the tension. Ranstead’s mount put a shoulder out and there was a halt until Matangi’s No. 1 was refitted. The quality of the play had relaxed to some extent but there were many good rallies in this term. Ranstead took the ball upfield from the centre and Townsend picked up in a handy pos-ition and drove the attack right home. With a lone handed effort from half-way on the change round Townsend completely nonplussed Waihou’s .defence and got his second goal in succession. The Margin Increased. With the score s—i their way entering the seventh and final chukka Matangi’s possession of the Gup looked assured. Shaw added a further goal after bringing the hall up from a long way out. Shaw registered another briliant run on the chauge round but lost the ball near the posts with a clear field. In the subsequent skirmish Ranstead put the shot through. Matangi continued to have the best of the play and the game ended. —? Matangi A 7 goals Waihou A I goal Mr J. McNlcol (Frankton) was the umpire. The polo reached a very high standard at varying stages of the game. Waihou started off well but the persistent and effective combination of Matangi told its tale and the victory of tile representatives of the new club was thoroughly deserved. PRESENTATION OF THE CUPS.

At the conclusion of the play Mr A. Miller, the president of the Association and the Matangi Club, presented the cups to the respective captains: V. Chitty (Matangi), R. G. Blcnnerhnssett (Cambridge), and W. Phillips (Tc Mata). He congratulated the winners on their success, t?he various teams on their standard of play and thanked the public l'or their support io a successful tournament. Cheers were given for the successful teams. The work of Mr W. Ranstead, the secretary of the Association and the tournament, contributed prominently to the all round success of the gathering. boy polo players. Two teams of boys were seen in action, Matangi beating Cambridge by two goals to nil. The lady supporters of the game are providing a cup to he played for, with an lb years age limit.