The Polo Tournament At Auckland.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 13, 1 April 1893, Page 302

The Polo Tournament At Auckland.

IT would be foolish to predict that polo was likely in the future to contest the supremacy with cricket or foot-

ball among our colonial national eports. Many of its ardent devotees may entertain some such high expectation for it, and they have certainly more reason for their faith than would he the case if this were England instead of New Zealand. Here the one thing necessary for the game, the pony, can be had at a very moderate sum, and kept for a trifle, so that the number who may indulge in the sport is very much larger, in proportion to the population, than in the old country. The ruling passion of Australasia —the love ot horse flesh—is also very much in favour of the realisation of the dreams of the enthusiastic polo player. But, with all the advantages it possesses in these colonies over what it has at home, it is most improbable that polo can ever take the place of our two great field sports. Even here, it must continue the game of a class only. It will be a considerable class, no doubt, but small in comparison with that vast army of athletes who own allegiance to the willow or the leather. Among that class, however, and among all sportloving spectators, polo is certain to rise rapidly in favour. The presence of the horses is a guarantee of that. From a utilitarian point of view the game may not appear at first sight so worthy of encouragement as some others of our sports. Compared with y achting, for instance, it may be less calculated to develop in the youth of a nation those qualities of fearlessness, hardihood, and quickness of resource which a life on the sea develops, and of course the game does not afford the maritime training that yachting does—a training which is of the utmost importance in a country situated like New Zealand. But polo has advantages of its own. To play it well requires a steady, fearless, and accomplished rider, and a well-trained pony with no mean powers of endurance. Perhaps to onlookers it might appear that the pony does most of the work, and that the rider has a rather easy time of it galloping over the field. Polo-players, however, assure us that this is not the case. It is hard work for the pony, they admit, but it is no child’s play for the man. The game, when one comes to understand it, which only a few in Auckland now do, is full of capabilities, and calls for the possession of qualities in both horse and rider that the casual spectator never would imagine necessary. The propagandists of the game claim that of all out door sports it is the most scientific. Cricketers will hardly allow this claim to pass unchallenged, and it is very doubtful whether it can be established. We will not pause here to make comparisons, which would not be understood by most of our readers whose acquaintance with the new game is not very old or very close. The two games stand on a different footing. Polo is comparatively a new game to Englishmen, whereas cricket was probably played on English meadows before Wales was conquered, before Bannockburn was fought. But in point of age our great national game is in its infancy compared with polo, which can be traced back to the year 600 n c. In its home in the east it was therefore played, when the British Isles were a terra incognita, except to an occasional ship from Phoenicia that touched at their shores for the sake of the tin. This eastern origin gives to the game an exotic flavour, which has a certain piquancy for both players and on-lookers. Most of us had heard of it before its introduction into England by the officers of our Indian army. Even though we were ignorant of what Persia’s epic poet or other of her bards had

said of the game, we all remember the references to the sport in the enchanting pages of the * Arabian Nights.' That vision of onr own which we had of polo, we have no doubt had to undo duiing the last week, but the impression left with us of tbe game is decidedly a favourable one. Auckland has certainly been afforded an ample opportunity of judging of its merits. For three days both riders and ponies worked hard to gain the honours of the tournament before crowds of spectators. The contest is all over now, and Christchurch, which from tbe beginning was the favourite, will again return to the City of tbe Plains with the Savile Cup still in its possession. No one will grudge them the honour attaching to their victory. They have won the fight fairly and well, besides giving us an opportunity of seeing some of the best little bits of horseflesh in the colony. To give an account of t he various matches in full is hardly necessary. The daily papers have already done that, but a short account of each day’s proceedings may prove of interest when accompanied by the pictures of the men and ponies, which were specially taken for the Graphic. The weather on Wednesday the opening day of the tournament, was perfect, and a fashionable assembly were gathered in Potter’s Paddock to witness the sport. Among those present were the Duchessof Buckingham and Chandos, Lady Hopetoun, Ladies Augusta, Alice, and Dorothy Boyle, Misses Wolfe-Murray and Hallowes, Lord Northesk (A.D.C. to Lord Hopetoun), Colonel Pat Boyle, Sir M. O’Rorke, and Captain Hunter-Blair. Tbe event of the day was the meeting of Christchurch and Auckland No. 1. The Christchurch Club team included A. E. G. Rhodes, No. 1 ; R. H. Rhodes, No. 2 ; W. F. M. Buckley, No. 3 ; and G. Palmer, back. To these Auckland opposed Dr. A. C. Purchas, No. 1 ; E. O’Rorke, No 2 ; Captain Hunter-Blair, No 3 ; A. R. Lockhart, back. The riders formed a picturesque group as they took their places in the field on their glossy, spirited little ponies. The freshness of the men and horses gave a cautions character to the play dnring the first spell, but, in spite of strenuous efforts on tbe part of the local men, when time was called Christchurch bad scored 2 points to Auckland’s nil. On the game resuming, by a more dashing style of play Auckland managed to hold its own better than it had done during the previous spell. Captain

Hnnter-Blair, supported by E. D. O’Rorke, dealt some admirable strokes, but fate seemed against tbe local men. All ot a sndden Palmer charged up the field with the ball. His comrades saw their opportunity, and dashing to bis support the Southerners carried the ball right up to Auckland’s goal posts Here fortune favoured their bravery, for the running ball, striking a pony’s hoof, glanced off, and found its way between the goal posts of the local men. After this disappointment Auckland worked hard, but with no winning result. A slight casualty occurred during this part of the afternoon Mr R H. Rhodes, after doing some hard bitting, was dismounted in a collision with Mr Lockhart. Neither the rider nor his horse were injured. This part of the game proved most interesting, although neither side scored. At first Auckland managed to keep the ball on the enemy’s ground, till some hard hits from R. H. Rhodes foiced the local team. The latter, however, quickly recovering itself, swept with the ball before them right up to within an easy distance of the Canterbury goal post. Here they managed to bold their position for a time, and O’Rorke, by some clever manoeuvring almost succeeded in making a goal. But the visitors turned the tide and were within an ace of scoring when Hnnter-Blair came to the rescue and drove the ball back. Only for a moment, however, for Palmer quickly met the little white sphere, and returned it to Auckland ground. Captain Hunter-Blair again earned the thanks of his comrades by peremptorily evicting the missile and following it into Cbristchuich teiritory. At this point time was sounded. The third spell saw some brilliant play on the part of the Aucklanders. With O’Rorke at their head they just missed scoring a goal before they had been very long in the field. But the visitors were obdurate, and after a little the local team had to retreat before them and do its utmost to preserve its goal against Palmer’s fine play. Alter a little Auckland began to play a less defensive game, and the ball was kept in a more central position. But the home team were fighting as it were for their hearths and homes, and soon showed that they were determined not to retire from the field without a single point in view of all their fellow citizens. Great brilliancy characterised their play, though perhaps their efforts were too individual. They were successful, however, Captain Hunter-Blair caught the ball about half - way down the field and skied it towards tbe enemy’s goal. The stroke was an excellent one, and when the missile fell, Dr. Purchas, who had followed up, guided it between the goal posts. Immense applause broke forth from the spectators congregated on the stand or outside the limits of tbe arena. Auckland had made its first score. But Christchurch was still two ahead, and, although O’Rorke, and Hunter-Blair did all

they could to lessen the difference between the two scores, they managed to effect nothing when time was called. Daring this spell Dr. Purchas came a cropper, but fortunately neither he nor bis mount were hurt. The fourth spell was characterised by some stiff play on both sides, but no scores were made for some time. At length, after a good deal of loose play, the ball got behind Auckland's posts, and almost immediately after it had emerged into the open field, it was struck by Buckley through his opponents’ uprights. When the match ended the scores read : Christchurch ... ... 4 Auckland ... 1 During the same afternoon the Rangitikei and Warrengate teams joined issue, with the result that the match ended with Rangitikei first for 3, and Warrengate close behind with a score of 2. On Thursday afternoon beautiful weather again favoured the players and the spectators, among whom the Government House party were again conspicuous. Two matches were played,'and in both the contestants were more equally matched than on the previous day, when Christchurch defeated Auckland. The first conflict was between Auckland 11. and Gisborne, and in it the local team to some extent retrieved the honour of the northern city. At first, indeed, the local team seemed to have it all their own way, but later on the strangers fought their way most manfully till its score was equal with that of the local team, which recorded three points. The latter, however, by the skilful play of Whewell and Wynyard managed to secure another goal before the final whistle sounded, thus securing a win by one point. The personnel of the two teams is as follows :—Gisborne : H. N. Watson (No. 1), G. Williamson (No. 2), W. H. Tucker (No. 3), and H. Evans (back). Auckland No. 11. :H. Wynyard (No. 1), J. F. Dixon (No. 2), C. Whewell (No. 3), and J. Colegrove (back). The next match was that between Christchurch and Rsngitikei. The latter was composed of J. Bourke (No. 1), D. G. Riddiford (No. 2), J. G. Wilson (No. 3), and A. Keiller (back). Notwithstanding clever play on the part of Riddiford, Christchurch went ahead in splendid style, and had scored three when the Rangitikei had not made a point. The fortune of the Canterbury team then began to turn, and their opponents managed to have two points to their name when the match closed.

On Friday the contest that decided to which of the New Zealand Polo teams the Savile Cup should belong for the next twelve months, took place. From the first it was more than suspected that Auckland 11. would be defeated, still that did not prevent a large concourse from finding their way in the afternoon to Potter’s Paddock. The result proved that the skill of the Christchurch men had not been overrated. Auckland was beaten, and beaten most thoroughly. But the local men, although they played a losing game, played it in excellent style. Colegrove distinguished himself particularly, and he was well aided by his companions. But it was all to no purpose. The Christchurch team, flushed with previous victory, and confident of success, carried all before them, and when the match closed had scored 5 goals, while their opponents were nothing.