POLO.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2740, 19 February 1910, Page 6

POLO.

EAST COAST POLO ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL TOURNAMENT

A stiff nor’-wester was blowing, though the weather was otherwise fine, when the East Coast Polo Association’s annual tournament was continued at Makauri yesterday afternoon. There was a fair attendance of spectators, and afternoon tea was dispensed by Mrs. Gillingham and the Misses Black. HANDICAP CUP FINAL.

Play started at 2 o’clock, when Poverty Bay I. (scr) met Poverty Bay 11. (13), in the final for the. Handicap Cup.

The teams were constituted as follows :

Poverty Bay I.: No. 1, E. Alonckton; No. 2, T. Sherratt; No. 3, R. It. Sherratt; back, J. R. Murphy. Poverty-' Bay II.: No. 1, G. Black; No. 2, S. E. Gillingham; No. 3, H. Wliite; back, P. Sherratt This contest provided a good exposition of the game The Poverty Bay seniors were in fine form, and worked together like a piece of well-oiled niachanism; but the Poverty Bay seconds, hung on to them with grim determination. and nullified the efforts of. the seniors to score on frequent occasions. Randall and Tliornlev Sherratt and Jack Murphy we re/ in fine form, and frequently called up applause by their dashing and skilful play. The juniors also played up surprisingly well. . Phil. Sherratt did) a lot of saving work at hack, while G. Black, Gillingham and PI. White rode hard and put up a- really excellent showing against their strong opponents. The game was marked by close play throughout, as’ the men were too well marked to - get awav often. At the close of the fifth spell, Poverty Bay had scored ten goals to 1 put on by the seconds. In the last spell play was very fast-, and some rattling good hard-galloping rushes were seen. However, the seconds put in such sound defensive work that the seniors wore- unable to add to their score, and the game ended with the board showing— Poverty Bay 11. ••• 14 Poverty Bay I. ... 10 Poverty Bay II thus annexed Jdie Handicap Cup, and well deserved the'i r victory by their consistent play throughout the tournament. Air 0. Monckton acted as umpire, while" Mr. E. R. Murphy again officiated as timekeeper.

HAAVKE’S BAY v. MANGAHEIA. The second game played yesterday was between Hawke’s Bay and Mangaheia. The teams were as follows: Hawke's Bay: No. 1, E. Nairn; No. 2, C. Nairn; No. 3, H. Russell; back, AY. AlcKenzie. Mangaheia: No. 1, It. K. Murphy; No. 2, R. G. Black; No. 3, D. Blaick; back, G. AI. Reynolds. Umpire, Mr. J. R. Murphy. The first meeting of _ these teams created a good deal of interest, and, as was expected, furnished some first - class play. Play was exceptionally fast, and "both McKenzie and D. Black were unhorsed within a few minutes of the opening of the first spell, but neither suffered injury. D. Black played a particularly good game for Mangaheia, and R. K. Murphy was also prominent throughout. Alangaheia had the best of the opening passages, and were the first to score. Hawke’s Bay, however, were playing with combination than they had hitherto shown, and soon began to -press their opponents hard. C. and E. Nairn played particularly fine games, being on the ball continually, and displaying good hitting (power and able horsemanship. _ Russell and McKenzie were as brilliant as usual, and the Hawke’s Bay quartette proved too good ’for Mangaheia. Though fthe scores were so unequal, the game was stubbornly contested throughout, and. cheers were frequently called up by the highly exciting manner' in which the game fluctuated, first charges being met usually by equally skilful defensive work. A really good game ended with the scores reading: Hawke’s Bay 9 Mangaheia 4 TO-DAYjS PROGRAMME.

The tournament .will conclude to-day with the Polo Cun and Gymkhana. The Polo Cup'will be run at the Makaraka racecourse, commencing at 11 a.m. The distance is half-a-mile, and following are the entries: W. C. McKenzie’s Vivian (14.2) 12sfc 91b: R. Reynolds’ Topaz (14.2) 12st 91b; It. Reynolds’ Fashion Plate (14.2), 12st 91b; D. Black’s Shadow (14.2), 12st 91b; J. R- Murphy’s Highland Mary (14.2), 12st 91b; It. K. Murphy’s Vanity (14.15), 12st bib; E. Gillingham’s Zoe (14.1), 12st lib; A. B. Williams’ Titi (14.1), 12st lib; . G. ■ H. Black’s Lady’s Maid (14.1), 12st 11b; W. C Molten zie’s Lady Gold (14.1), 12st lib ; D. C. Gray’s Sunbeam (14.0), list 71b; H. A. Russell’s Sinbad (14.0), list 71b; ' . The Mangaheia Club are managing tlie gymkhana, which commences at 2 o’clock on the polo ground at Makauri. A first-class programme of seven events figures on the attractive official card, and the entries are very large.

Capital contests should -be witnessed, the presence of .the Hawke’s Bay fponies adding additional interest to the competitions. The Open and Handicap Cups will bo handed over to the winners during the afternoon.

THE RHODES CUP. TPun Press Association.'] CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 18! . The second competition for the Polo Cr.jp • presented by Mr. Arthur E. G. Rhodes cdmmenced this afternoon. Christchurch A team (scr) met Pareroa (6 goals handicap),, the (present holders of the cup, who defeated Christchurch A by nine goals to eight. Ha warden (6 hep) heat Te Papa (10 hep) by 15 goals to 12.