PROMISING FORM

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20465, 4 April 1938, Page 8

PROMISING FORM

DOMINION POLO TEAM PRACTICE AT CAMBRIDGE GOOD COMBINATION LIKELY (Special to Time* from “ChuMc*") CAMBRIDGE, Saturday Although there was little brilliantly spectacular play when the New Zealand representative polo team engaged In an exhibition-practice match against A team composed of the two reserve players and two members of the Cambridge club, at the racecourse ground, Cambridge to-dav, there was a definite promise of an excellent combination being attained while the team is playing in the Gold Cup contest at Sydney during the third week in April. The All Blacks won the match by 7 goals to 2. In addition to giving the All Blaok polo players excellent practice the match enabled several Waikato polo ponies to be tested with a view’ to making a final choice of 25 mounts to cross the Tasman Sea with the team, which sails from Auckland on April 11. Team Tactics Dlsoussed The ground was rough and fast play was almost impossible. However, wilh the main objective of discussing team tactics and acquiring combination, there was little call for the spectacular. The team, when selected, had individual brilliance and before the Australian tour is commenced, a combination waa needed. In this respect the captain of the team. Robert Q. Mackenzie, indicated, to-day, that he will be a fine skipper and throughout the game he was leading his team well, trying new tactics, and always endeavouring to maintain the positional play of his team-mates. Mackenzie is sound on attack for he is always keeping the ball centred and in no way does he display selfishness. His stick work was pretty and on many occasions he demonstrated shot 6 which are almost strange to the Waikato. Excellent Baoklng-Up. _ A strong feature of the play of the New Zealand team is the manner ia which they are backing-up. Ken Peake and Mackenzie combine very weir in this respect and when the former, who is the fullback of the team, esfiys on one of his sweeping gallops, the captain drops back neatly to the back position. Of course such is to be expected of a representative team but backing-up tactic* as those are pretty to watoh. At times the players were not seen at their best as, in some chukkas, the best ponies were not played. One or two of the mounts are still sore after the New Zealand tourney at Claudelsnds while one or two are affected by influenza. Two horses of C. Morgan's, which were to have been lent to the team for the Australian tour have heavy colds and were not played today. One is the prominent Laptown, for six years winner of the Polo Pony Cup at the annual Polo Sports. There was a large crowd at the game which was of six chukkas. The players were:— New Zealand team: R. Nolan, G. Peake, R. Q. Mackenzie. K. Peake. The “Rest : R. Peake, R. Hannon, K. Henry, L. R. Kay and N. Garland, (one plaver standing down for different chukkas). The <‘Reet” Goal Firet Leading the All Blacks on the first excursion or the match G. Peake rorced the opposition hard on the defensive but Henrv was always prominent In reversing each thrust. R. Peake was the spearhead of an attack bj>the Rest and, following through quickly, Henry goaled. G. Peake wellmounled, was turning quickly on the ball amrks° re M h n e^ ch,J, f ka en ,P ' l ho 1«4 several attacks. Mackenzie goaieq nnfl gi lo rtiv arterwards with a charaet*>r , *tl'' oig.hit thW po?nt. Plßyer a ' We ‘ 1 the AU Slacks’ second The All Blacks attacked early *t the outset or the second chukka when therj vas a faster pace but, wifii R. Peake and Henry breaking down the attack. theVlJy was even and neither quartette penetrated to goal. In the ihlrd chukka I r jemw playpo 1n place or Henry r-r thenSff Trlcklnif the defence early w!r, a j Z'i X '’.i?' Pake a powerr„i sit Tor the New Zealand tain, Ji’f'S directional hitting- prevented a g oa i votJ? .h ar ß < “ n f. le ™ mWnf " brilliantly tS rush the Rest s goal hut hay clea""d temn orany until Mackenzie drove arter a back-hander to score as the chukka >ew Zealand 3. The Be," ~ ed - G. Peake at Fullback For the rourth chukka G Peake fullback Tor tbe New Zealan-l team ttee Peake going to three. R Peace *itß doaa-n front the Rest’s ranks. Mackenzie made frequent openings ror the All Black team and arter hammering at the goal In frequent melees, tne combine.™ scored aealn when Nolan executed a neat Tornhand to goal. The nest attacked incessantly for the remainder or the chukka Hannon stood down In place or R Peak, for the fifth ehukka whleh opened with an All Black offensive led by Mackenzie Taking control over thr ball Nolan goaled. The Rest galloped to th* attack as the Oukka ended. After Kay had paved tne wav h Peake goaled r o r the Rest with a brilliant forehand drive which he pulled lr 10 the goalmouth. New Zealand y The Rest Two More Good Goals Early In the sixth chukka K. Peake who was playing fullback again, centred" well to G. Peake who swung In to two hatd drives, the nnal one finding tbe pylons for another goal Tor the New Zealand team One or K. Peake’s characterlsilr g,ii op , gave the All Blacks their seventh goa l when getting control from well Inside the " onposition sector be piloted the willow While at full gallop as Nolan on the right Hank, and G. Peake on tne lert, rode off the opposition to give him a clear run The game ended with the score 7 2 in the New Zealand team’s favour.