POLO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2444, 8 March 1909, Page 5

POLO.

ANNUAL TOURNAMENT. The Waiapu Association’s annual tournament was resumed at Makauri on Saturday, at 12.15. The weather was gloriously fine, and there was a large and fashionable attendance during the afternoon. The array of brakes, carriages, and motor cars, with the many strings of polo ponies, lent to the prettily .willow-fringed paddock a most attractive appearance. There was a very large attendance of ladiew 'and afternoon tea was provided by the Waiapu team. The ground was in capital order, and the play d iring the afternoon was of a high standard. The p‘avers, who do not get much opportunity of regular practice, owing to the members of most of the club - being so scattered, are improving as the tournament- progresses, and some capital play should be witnessed in tlio- finals. OPEN CUP. POVERTY BAY No. 1 v. MANGATU No. 1. The first game played on Saturday was between Poverty Bay No. 1 and Man gat u No. 1 in the Open Cup. M. McKenzie replaced A. Law, who was injured on Friday, as No. 1 -in the Mangatu team. The teams took the field as follows: Poverty Bay No. 1: No. 1, E. Monckton; No. 2, T. Sherratt: No. 3, R. Sherratt; back, J. R. Murphy. Mangatu No. 1: No. 1, M. McKenzie; No. 2, Allan Campbell; No. 3, Malcolm " Campbell; back, McKay Campbell. The game w.as fast and interesting throughout. Poverty _ Bay played with splendid combination, but the Mangatu men stuck manfully to their work, and made their powerful opponents play hard for their goals. In McKenzie and Allan Campbell the young club have a couple of men who should develop into really good polo players. An interesting game -resulted in a win for Poverty Bay by 15 goals to 0. (HANDICAP CUP. MANGAHEIA No. 1 (scr) v. WAIAPU (15).

The Alangaheia seniors, who Avere on the scratch mark, then took the field against Waiapu, Avho had a handicap of 15 goals. The teams were constituted as under:

Mangaheia No. 1: No. 1, R. Iv. Murphy; No. 2, G. AI, Reynolds: No. 3, R. Reynolds; back, R. C. Murphy. Waiapu: No. 1. A. B. AVilliams; No. 2, E. T. AYilder ; No. 3, K. S! AVilliams: back, R. G. Saxby. Messrs J. S. AY. Neileon and J. R, Murphy were the vreferees. Mangaheia .got away with the ball, and a good rush just missed the goal. They came back on the attack immediately, and Rob Murphy shot the ball through. On resuming, Mangaheia again got away, and Ralph Reynolds scored the second goal a couple of- minutes from the start of play—Mangaheia. 2, AYaiapu 15. Mangaheia still pressed; and penned AYaiapu in their quarters. Ken AYilliams shifted play to midfield with a good run. Ralph Murphy missed a backhander and gave Arnold AVilliams a good opening in front of goal, but the ball just passed outside the uprights. Mangaheia took the ball up to tlio AYaiapu quarters, but Arnold AVilliams came back with a fast and brilliant run, and scored a splendid goal, amidst hearty applause—Mangaheia 2, AYaiapu 16. ' Second Spell—lmmediately on opening Mangaheia attacked; and good work by Rob Murphy and Ralph Reynolds enabled the latter to score — Mangaheia 3, AYaiapu 16. Prom a behind, Saxby missed the .hit out, but K. S. AVilliams cleared Ills quarters with a fine rush. A good dash by Arnold AVilliams threatened Mangaheia, but George Reynolds saved, and his brother Ralph carried the ball at a rattling pace up Jlie field, until ridden off by Ivon Williams. A free to Mangaheia for a cross was resultless, but immediately afterwards Rob Murphy shot tlio ball through—Mangaheia 4, Waiapu 16. A fine dash by Rob Murphy and George Reynolds ended in a behind, and the spell was ended without the scores, being altered.

Third Spell.—Shortly after opening, Arnold AVilliams called up applause by breaking away and taking the ball up the lino at a rattling pace. He centred finely, and ended up, amidst cheers, in scoring the most brilliaut goal yet scored in the tournament— Waiapu 17, Mangaheia 4. On restarting, Mangaheia attacked hotly, and George Reynolds shot the fifth goal for his side —Mangaheia 5, AVai-

• **. ' S*l3]| apu 17. Mangaheia were now nf ing the pace warm, and a combijf rush by the whole side saw ( Ray Murphy score with a well-direct stroke —Mangaheia 6, Waiapu , Mangaheia again attacked strong and Ralph Reynolds, from fast w< hi front of Waiapu’s goal, again 6ft) ed —Mangaheia 7, Waiapu 17. ! Fourth Spell.—-Arnold Williams nj rowly missed scoring with a fine rij. but- Ralph Murphy saved well, aj.j Ralph Reynolds called up applause A a brilliant dash to tho Waiapu got From close work near the Waiaj ' ine, George Reynolds sent the bi between the posts, with a magnificei Vmg, lofty hit from an extremedifficult angle—Mangaheia 8, Waiaj 17. Rob Murphy was conspicuous f<j ■i brilliant dash up the line, but IYj;der saved. A fine rush by Ralph anj George Reynolds saw the Mangahei j men in full cry for the goal, _an|d Rob Murphy finished up a brillian j lash by scoring a fine goal—heia 9, Waiapu 17. f: Fifth -Spell.—After fast work it' midfield, A. B. Williams made a fas; dash for the goal, but the ball went ■nit outside the posts. Ralph Rey| noldrs next showed up with a long run; j : n which he took the ball at top pace : half the length of the ground, and ’ust missed the posts by a foot. Exjj i-eptionally fast work rollowed, botljj -ides playing with great dash. Rot*! Murphy was penalised for off-side, and| Saxby had a free, but- Ralph got- away and a behind was registered.! against Waiapu. Immediately after!} wards Mangaheia swarmed down bug flie Waiapu goal, and both teams' vent between the posts, the ponies feet carrying the ball through—Manga hoi a 10, Waiapu 1/. A free for a.' •moss followed to Mangaheia, and; George Reynolds just missed with.: Vis shot at goal. Sixth Spell.—Shortly after resum'ng. Mangaheia set up a determined attack, and from close work in front of the Waiapu goal, Mangaheia were awarded a foul, and rolled the ball -ieiitlv through—Mangaheia 11, Waiipu 17. Fast and exciting play fol'owed. the ball travelling up and down the field at a great- rate. Mangaheia, through the agency of Ralph Reynolds, worked down -within striking distance, and George Reynolds scored —Mangaheia 11, Vaiapu 17. No sooner had play resumed than Manirabeia again attacked with excellent combination, and Rob Murphy piloted the ball through the posts. Mangabeia 12, Waiapu 17. Mangaheia werenow playing in capital form, and rang on a couple of goals in quick succession, through the agency of George and Ralph' Reynolds—Mangaheia 14. Waiapu 17. No further score resulted, and a most exciting game ended:

Waiapu 17 - Mangaheia- 1* The game was a capital one _ all through, and at times quite brilliant plav was indulged in by both teams. For Waiapu, Arnold Williams gave a very fine display as No. 1, and was Aequentlv' applauded for brilliant individual efforts. Wilder was in much better form as No. 2 than he had shown previously, and the same may »e said of Saxby at back, who put in i lot of fine defensive work. Ken. Williams played a consistent- game all hrougli, and the combination of the team was better in this game than it has yet been in the tournament. For Mangaheia, Ralph Reynolds, at No. 3, was the bright particular star, uid he was brilliant- throughout. Ralph Murphy -save a fine defensive display at hack) and George Reynolds’and R-ob Murphy played consistently all through. The combination of’the Mangaheia- team was particularly good, and their play was generally admired. • as ’

MANGAHEIA No. 2- (17) v. POVERTY- BAY No. 2 (15).

Tlie above teams then took the field, as follows: Mangaheia No. 2: No. 1, G. AYillianis; No. 2, Rob Black; No. 3, Dick Black; back, J. Rutledge._ Poverty Bay No. 2: No. 1, G. Black; No. 2, O. Alonckto.n; No. 3, 8. E. Gillingham; back, P. Sherratt. Referee: Air. T. Sherratt. Shortly after the start of the game Gillingham rode into Dick Black, and the latter’s pony Avas heavily thrown. The rider escaped injury, and. quickly remounted. Alangaheia- had the best of the opening passages, and Dick Black, who was playing with, great dash, scored ago era goal. Both sides vere very evenly matched, and play m consequence was interesting. No further score resulted in the first spell,and the second* spell Avas also pointless. In the third’ spell, Poverty Bay. who AA'ere playing Avith better combination, scored as the result of good, work by George Black and Gillingham. Poverty Bay 16, Alangaheia. 18. In the fourth spell some exceptionally fast and open play - Avas Arituessed'. and excitement ran high and applause was frequent as both teams attacked in turn. Gillingham was playing with rare dash at this stage, and through his agency Poverty Bay again scored—Poverty Bay 17. Alangaheia IS. In the fifth spell, the riding was hard and the play vigorous. The pace began to tell on both men and ponies, aud misses were frequent. A splendid run by Alonckton was finished off with a clever shot-, which steered the ball through, and the scores were level. Tho teams took the field for the final spell oil level terms, and fast and exciting play folloAved. It appeared as if another spell would have to be played, when Gillingham get away in rare style, and Around up a. capital run by shooting Avhat proved to be the winning goal. There . was no further score, and a most interesting gamo resulted:

Poverty Bay No. 2 19 Alangaheia No. 2 ... 18

TO-DAY’S PROGRAAIAIE

The tournament will be continued to-day, Avlien some really fine games should be witnessed. Poverty Bay No. 1 meets Alangaheia No. 1 in the final for the Open Cup, and the match should .provide one of the best games seen for many years. In tho Handicap Cup, AVaiapu meets Poverty Bay No. 2, both teams being on the" same handicap mark, Avith 15 goals. The farmer, if they can repeat their form of Saturday, should win. The winner in the latter game.will meet Poverty Bay No. 1 in the final.