POLO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2445, 9 March 1909, Page 5

POLO.

ANNUAL TOURNAMENT. There was ideal weather for the continuation of the Waiapu Polo Association’s annual tournament at Makauri yesterday. The heat was nicely tempered by a cool westerly breeze, and the ground was in splendid order. An unusually large crowd of spectators attended in anticipation- of witnessing the final in the Open Cup competition between the Poverty Bay and Mangaheia senior teams. They were not disappointed, as the play, was of a high standard throughout, and the issue was in doubt’-until the deciding goal was hit. The ladies again attended in' large numbers, and afternoon tea was provided by Mesdames R. Sherratt and Gillingham, and Messrs Monckton and Wachsmann. MANGAHEIA I. v. POVERTY BAY I. The teams lined up as follows: Poverty Bay I.: No. 1, E. Monckton; No. 2, T. Sherratt; No. 3, R. Sherratt; back, J. R. Murphy. Mangaheia I.: No. 1, R. K. Murphy; No. 2, G. M. Reynolds; No. 3, R. Reynolds; back, R. C. Murphy. Messrs Sydney Williamson and J. S. W. Neilson acted as referees, Mr. K. S. Williams as scorer, and Mr. A. B. Williams as timekeeeper. From the throw-in, Ralph Reynolds got away, but Jack Murphy arrested his progress with a strong backhander. George Reynolds came up the field with a strong run, but the Gisborne back again arrested Mangaheia’s progress. Monckton and Randal! Sherratt started a rush, which Jack Murphy carried on to the Mangaheia goal, and Thornley Sherratt shot the first goal for Poverty Bay. Mangaehia, working with fine combination, came down the field in grand style, aud overrode all opposition. They were awarded a free for hitting behind, but Randall Sherratt cleared his line with a firm stroke, and called up applause by making a brilliant dash at a rattling pace right up to the Poverty Bay goal, only missing his shot at- goal by a foot. Fast and exciting play followed till the end of the spell. The second spell saw George Reynolds break away, but Jack Murphy, with a strong hack-hander, drove the ball back. Ralph Murphy travelled fast- up the line, and George Reynolds sent a long shot straight for the goal. Thornley Sherratt was appauded for cleverly saving just as the ball was passing through. A free to Mangaheia followed for hitting behind. Rob Murphy and George Reynolds threatened the Gisborne goal, but Thornley Sherratt again saved finely. Mangaheia made several strong rushes, but were pulled up on each occasion by Jack Murphy. A strong attack by Poverty Bav was driven back by George Reynolds, and the spell ended in midfield. Just before the- bell went, Jack Murphy was unseated through his pony losing its feet in turning too sharply. Third Spell.—Ralph Reynolds got away, and made a straight dash for goal with firm bits, but the ball dodged him in his 'shooting strike. Mo nekton, and Randall Sherratt came back, but Rob Murphy broke away and took Ibe ball well up the'field until he,met the Poverty Bay back, who drove the ball back with one of his characteristic back-handed strokes. Excopfion-

ally fast and exciting plav followed, the men hitting cleanly, and some fast galloping being indulged in. Applause was frequent, and excitement ran high as both goals were menaced in turn.'

Fourth Spell.—Randall Sberratt got away, but George Reynolds checked him with a back-bander. Rob Murphv made a fine run to near the goal, where Jack Murphy rode him off. George Reynolds made a good dash at goal, but a -behind was all that came of it. Mangaheia penned the Gisborne men, and another behind followed. i-A fine run by Randall Slier-rat-t called up cheers, but an equally brilliant'dash by Ralph Reynolds took the ball well up the field, and Manga. beia bore down on the Gisborne goal. A good rush ended in Rob Murphy scoring for Mangaheia, amid hearty applause, and the scores were level — l all. George Reynolds bioke away, and closely attended by his brother Ralph, bore down on the Poverty Bay goal, with not a single opponent to check them. However, the hall just pissed outside tho posts. Rob Murphy also narrowly missed scoring before the bell sounded.

(Fifth Spell.—-Fast- work marked the opening of the spell. Randall Shor-rat-t’s hit out was well carried on by bis brother Thornley, but Ralph Reynolds checked well. Rob Murphy broke away, and George Reynolds scored a brilliant goal with a beautiful cut. Mangaheia 2, Poverty Bay 1. Mangaheia again manaced their opponents’ goal, and Ralph Reynolds and Rob Murphy narrowly missed scoring. Mangaheia kept up the pressure, and George Reynolds called up applause by shooting a brilliant goal, Jack Murphy making a fine effort to save. Mangaheia 3, Poverty Bay 1. Poverty Bay made matters warm on resuming, and some finished work' by Thornley and Randall Sberratt ended in the latter scoring a good goal. Poverty Bay 2, Mangaheia 3.

Sixth Spell.—With only a goal separating them, the teams entered on the final spell. Mangaheia attacked strongly, but the brothers Sberratt came away and carried the hall down to the Mangaheia goal. There wasgreat cheering wjieii Monckt-on finished up a good run by scoring a neat gola,' and -both teams were level—3 all. Mangaheia.had the best of matters for a time, and attacked. Ralph Murphy with a strong back-hander gavo liis brother Rob a beautiful chance of scoring in front of goal, but the latter missed, and Randall Sberratt hit clear. Poverty Bay worked -gradually up the field, and some fast and brilliant work .was seen in midfield. George Reynolds called up' cheers by making a rattling run. down to tho Poverty’ -Bay goal, 1 hut just failed to guide the ball through. The spell ended, but as the scores were level tho teams had to play oil until a .deciding»goal was registered. Seventh Spell.—-Fast and exciting play was the order of the day on resuming. Mangaheia were playing the slightly better game, and bad tiro best of tho rallies, Ralph Murphy putting in some very sure work at back lor Mangaheia. ’ A concerted rush took the ball at a rattling pace to the Poverty Bay goal, and George Reynolds, amid hearty cheering, shot-

tho winning 'goal, an exceptionally fast and even game thus ending: Mangaheia 4 Poverty Bay ... 3 WAIAPU (15) v. POVERTY BAY 11. (15). These teams then took the field in the final for the Handicap Cup, Poverty Bay I. having withdrawn. The sides were constituted as follows : Walapu: No. 1, A. B. Williams; No. 2, E. T. Wilder; No. 3, K. S. Williams; back, R. G. Saxby. Poverty Bay II.: No. 1, G. Black; No. 2, 0. Monckton; No. 3, S. E Gillingham; back. P. Sherratt. Messrs S. Williamsorf and Neilson again .acted as referees, and Mr. A. If. Watson as timekeeper. Even play followed for a time, but Wiaapu gradually worked down to the Gisborne goal. From exciting play here, Arnold Williams drew first blood for Waiapu. Even play followed till tho end of the spell. f Second Spell. —Shortly after resuming, Wilder and A. B. Williams got away, and K. S. Williams scored Waiapu’s second goal—Waiapu 17, Poverty Bay 15. Saxby was (responsible for taking tho ball down the field with good strokes, and K. S. Williams hit Waiapu’s third goal— Waiapu 18, Poverty Bay 15. Waiapu had all the best of tho remainder of the spell, but though they penned Poverty Bay on their line, they were, unable to score, Phil Sherratt putting in a lot of clever defensive work. Third Spell.—Monckton and Phil Sherrat snowed up in a run which took the ball well down the field, but Gillingham missed with a long shot at goal. Play was fast, and some clean hitting and hard riding wore seen. Wilder and Arnold Williams started a fast rush, which was taken on by Saxby, but George Black saved nicely. After even play for a time, Wilder had a bid for a goal with a good run, but the ball passed outside.

Fourth Spell.—A long hit by Saxby war. picked up by Wilder, who mado a fine stroke, and Arnold Williams got auav, but had too much paco on and overran the ball. Poverty Bay, with George Black, Gillingham, and Phil Sherratt in good hitting form, came with a rattle, and a behind was registered against Waiapu. Gillingham and Monckton were responsible for another behind almost immediately. Wilder cleared his quarters with a clever bit of work, and close play in midfield followed. Poverty Bay attacked hotly, but were unable to score, though Monckton came near scoring just as the bell went, the ball just grazing the goal posts. Fifth Spell. Playv was fast on opening. Ken Williams, Wilder, and Arnold Williams, with long strokes, took play to the Gisborne goal, but George Black and Phil Sherratt came back with a good rally. Fast play continued till the end. of the spell, but no scoro was registered. Sixth Spell.—Play opened at a rattling pace, and applause was frequent as 1 fast rushes followed each of her in rapid succession. The hitting of tho Poverty Bay men was badly directed, and lost them a couple of chances of scoring from good openings. A. B. Williams and Wilder made a big bid for .a goal, but Wilder made a wild shot. Phil Sherratt was next to show up with a good run, but Saxby and A. B. Williams took the bill back at a rapid pace. Waiapu attacked liotely, but a behind was all they could secure, and the bell wont. Waiapu thus won a fast and interesting game, and took the Handicap Cup, tho score standing: Waiapu IS Poverty Bay ... 15

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME. This morning the Polo Cup, for a handsome cup donated by Mr. M. R. Murphy, will bo run on the Poverty Bay Turf Chib’s course at Makaraka. at 11 o’clock. In the afternoon a gymkhana will be held on the polo ground at Makauri, commencing at 1.30 o’clock, when the following prograrame will be submitted: —1. Polo Ball Race; 2, Bending Racc;3, Thread the Needle Race; 4, Polo Pony Test; •5. Cigar and Umbrella Race; 5, Whistling Race.