N.Z. POLO ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3163, 8 March 1911, Page 5

N.Z. POLO ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT. SAVILLE CUP COMPETITION. A GOOD DAY’S SPORT AT BUSHMERE. For the first, time in. the history of the game m this district, the annual tournament ot tire Mew Zealand Polo Association was commenced at Bushmere yesterday. The ground was the recently acquired venue near Mr W. ,H. Renner’s residence, and having Been closely mown and well levelled it was in almost ideal condition, for polo. The fixture, which is a, rather important one, attracted a large number of . visitors, and the play on the whole was most interesting, although the .teams were not perhaps evenly matched. As is usual at such gatherings in Gisborne, the display of ponies was a really good one, some remarkable fine ones being on ilie ground. While the polo, as has been said, was interesting, the general arrangements were' well in hand, and reflected great credit on, the acting lion, secretary, Mr .R. G. Black. Mr. E. R, Murphy and Mr. K. S. Williams officiated as time-keepers, and ■ f Messrs R. G. Black and M. R. Murphy pliv in the capacity of umpires. The three games played yesterday were in, the competition for the muchcoveted Saville Cup, at present held by Hawke’s Bay, and added interest was lent .to the fact that a team from that province had made the journey in order to 1 defend their laurels. Play commenced shortly after 12 noon, and was carried on expeditiously, little time being lost The following are the details of the day’s programme : MAN GATE A v. MAN G AHEIA. The first teams to meet were Mangaheia A and Manga,tu A, and they lined out as follows: Ma,ngaheia A: R. Reynolds (1), G. Reynolds (2), R. K. Murphy (3), Ralph Murphy (back). Mangatu A: Wright (I),Allan Campbell (2), McKay Campbell (3), Malcolm Campbell (back). Mangaheia assumed the aggressive from the commencement, but for a time in. the first spell were .unable to score owing to the excellent defence of the Campbell Bros. Mangaheia. however, narrowly missed opening their account on several occasions, and their off pits were at length rewarded, goals being obtained in quick- succession, by R. Murphy and G. Reynolds. In tne second spell Mangatu, showing greatly improved form and combination, began, to. assert themselves, and after a nice combined run Wright notched the first goal for the country team.

Mangaheia were on the. defensive in the early portion of the third spell, but some good riding and hitting by the brothers Reynolds transferred play to the other end, and in rapid succession two more goals were scored, so that when the spell ended the scores were— Mangaheia 4, Mangatu 1. The fourth and fifth spells were fairly evenlv contested, but Mangaheia had the advantage, of perhaps slightly better ponies, and their hitting was generallv cleaner than that of their opponents. Neither side Succeeded in penetrating their opponents’ - defence during the fourth spoil, but in the subsequent period G. Reynolds placed Mangaheia still further in, the lead by scoring cleverly. The opening stages of the sixth spell were, characterised by fast and exciting play, each side livening up considerably. Ralph Reynolds got clean away inside the lialf-w'ay flag, and in piloting the ball through the goal struck one of the pests heavily. He was knocked off Jus pony and received a very severe shaking, being compelled to retire. Mangatu, in order to equalise matters, decided to dispense with the services of Wright, and their sporting spirit was rewarded, as almost immediately afterwards McKay Campbell scored for them. With three men aside the game continued* to, be fast, and while, R. Murph” scored for Mangaheia, Malcolm Campbell performed a similar feat for Mangatu. The game thus ended — Mangaheia ... ••• <3 Mangatu ... ... ••• 3 and the scores just about represented the difference in the teams. POVERTY BAY A v MANGAHEIA B These teams lined out as follows: — Poverty Bay: A. E. Monc'kton (1), T. Sherratt (2). R. Sherratt (3), John Murphy (Back). Mangaheia B: Bruce Bennett (1), Dick Black (2), -W. L. Rutledge (3), G. Biack (back). From the outset the Poverty Bay' men showed their superiority, but the ‘■B” team put up a- stubborn defence against their more skilful opponents. In the first spell Poverty Bay scored two goals, one of which was registered by Thornlev Sherratt, and the other as the result of a scramble in goal mouth. The game was fast, and exciting, some clever riding-off being done by the men of each side, while the hitting, espedallv of the senior men, was clean and forceful. E. Monckton scored for Poverty Bav, and G. Black for Mangaheia R Sherratt just failing to save. Rutledge was prominent in the play that followed, but the spell ended without further score. In the third spell, each side was penalised for crossing, and play .continued to be very fast, and, at tomes, exciting. Towards the close of the spell Mangaheia indulged in. a combined rush to their opponents' goal, where Bruce Bennett drove the ball through the posts amidst applause. Monckton scored for Poverty Bay early in the fourth spell, and a moment later Thornloy Sherratt emulated; the performance after a brilliant individual Jll When, the fifth spell was entered upon Mangaheia. were in a minority ot three goals, and during the period two more goals were added for Poverty Bay as the result of scrambles on the goal fine R Sherratt and T. Sherratt each added a goal for Poverty Bay in the last spell, and the game finally ended- —

Poverty .Bay ••* "* Ma.ngaheia* ••• ••• r HAWKE’S BAY v POVERTY BAY B. These teams were the next to take the field, lining out as followsHawke’s Bay: E. Nairn H). Kenzie (2), IT. Russell (3), W. MclvenK! °Pcverty Bay B: H cloLautour (1). E. Gillingham (2). H. White (3), lhil-. Sherratt (back)* , , •, .1,. As was naturally to be expected, the Poverty’ Bay B team were quite unable to* extend the holders of the cup, an Hawke’s Bay eventually won by lo goals to nil The visitors gave a rattling good display of, .'.ding and hittin , and.their ponies were apparently excel-

lentlv trained. W. McKenzie at back played a brilliant game, and was well supported by the other members of the team. All the members of the local team worked hard, in- a rather unequal combat, but they were outclassed in almost everv department of the game. The meeting between the senior teams of Mangaheia and Poverty Bay w.tli the Hawke’s- Bay team is expected to provide a rattling exposition of the game. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME. The tournament will be continued today, when Mangaheia A and Poverty Bay A will meet in the Saville Cup competiion. Two games will- also be played in the Handicap Cup competition, Mangatu A meeting Mangatu B, and Mangaheia B playing Poverty Bay B * On Thursday the winners of No. 1 match to-day will meet- Hawke’s Bay in the final for the Saville Cup at 2 pun. The second game will be between the winner of No. 2 and the winner of No. 3 in the Handicap Cup. The final of the Handicap Cup will probably be played on Friday or on Saturday -morning. ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. NEXT TOURNAMENT AT HASTINGS. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Polo Association was hold at the Masonic Hotel last evening. Present: Messrs .H. A. Russell (Hawke’s Bay) in the chair, D. Black (Christchurch), M. Campbell (Mangatu), J. R. Murphy (Poverty Bay), K. S. W llhams (Waipiro), E Nairn (Merrylegs), and F. McKenzie' (Amuri). A number of other gentlemen interested in polo also attended. , . ~ On the motion of the Chairman, it .vas decided to hold thp next tournament at Hastings. , - . The following officers were elected : President, His Excellency the Governor . vice-president-, Sir Wm. Russell; committee, Messrs H. A. Russell, J. R. Murphy, J. D. Hall, R. Levin J. Strang; secretary and treasurer. Mi • D G. A. Cooper; lion, auditor, Mr. L. Bt.cholz. ' „ ... It- was decided to ask the- committee to consider the, question of l introducing the “no off-side” rule at tournaments. Votes of thanks were accorded to the honorary auditor, umpire, _ time-keep-ers. goal-keepers, and side-liners.