POLO.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 17

POLO.

AMURI CUP SERIES

YESTERDAY'S PLAY. The first round of matches for fhe Ainuri Polo Cup was played at the ground on Mr R.. L. Jameson's property at Rotherhara, Amuri, yesterday, under ideal weather conditions. The polo was fast and interesting, and good handicapping made for keen finishes. The teams playing were Christchurch (ser), Banks Peninsula (1), Amuri A (6), Amuri B (16). The winners of to-day's games were Amuri A and Banks Peninsula, and a well-contested final is anticipated. The ground was in good order, although the recent heavy rain had made it a trifle slow and sticky, and this retarded the game, particularly at the beginning of the afternoon. The teams were well mounted, and there were exhibitions of very good horsemanship.

Amuri (hep. i) v. Christchurch (scr). Christchurch: Roger Johnson, Captain Tahu Rhodes, Gilbert Grigg, Major G. F. Hutton. Amuri A: R. Gould, D. C. Macfarlane, C. Deans, R. L. Jameson.

The first chukkas of this match were patchy, and the ball did not run well on the sticky ground, but towards the end of the game play was more sjjecdjj and there were fine rushes for the goal. Major Hutton goaled in the first chukka and Grigg in the second. In the third D, C. Macfarlane scored a good goal right at the start, and from a fine rush upfield by Rhodes, Hutton nicked the ball between the posts. Jameson scored for Amuri A a minute before the end of the spell. Hutton goaled twice for Christchurch after tho resumption of play. Rhodes scored once, and from a strong free hit, Gould followed up and goaled for the home team.

The next chukka was the best of the game, and play was carried fast from end to end of the ground. Amuri mado a gallant attempt to score a point, but Macfarlano lost the ball near the posts after a good gallop up tho ground, and Christchurch carried it back to their opponents' territory. Another rush by Amuri was stemmed by Major Hutton, who took tho ball down field in a Beries of rushes, and Rhodes scored well. The last chukka was a hard one, but Christchurch missed a good chance to score early in the spell, and tho opportunity did not come again. Tho final score was nine goals to seven.

Banks Peninsula (hep. 1) v. Amuri B (hep. 16).

Banks Peninsula: H. Menzies, D. W. J. Gould, Peter Johnson, A. Menzios. Amuri B: R. L. Macfarlano, J. L. Macfarlane, V. Bethell, Andrew Robinson.

Banks Peninsula played a wiuniug game in this match, and scored eight goals in the last two chukkas. At first there was a little doubt as to whether they could win in the face of the handicap they were conceding, but they carried everything before them in the later stages, .Amuri goaling only once. Gould was the first to score, and he notched his goal when the ball had been carried up the field from the hitoff. Immediately afterwards, H. Menzies scored for the attackers, bub Amuri were not sfow to take their chance when it came, and J. L. Macfarlane nicked the ball into goal from a melee at the posts.

In the next chukka, Johnson scored two goals for Banks Peninsula, and scored them verj neatly. v Before the chukka ended, Johnson made the best run of the game, carried the ball from below halfway, and shot it between the posts. H. Menzies scored the sixth goal for Peninsula. Johnson scored another goal in the third spell. Gould made a splendid attempt to score. In the fourth he rushed the ball right up the field, to lose it near the posts, and A. Menzies popped it between. Gould scored the ninth. In the fifth chukka, Johnson scored twice, and Gould and A. Menzies one goal each.

In the final ehukka excitement ran high on the side line, and there was speculation as to whether Peninsula would'be able to win, or even to equalise the tally, but Gould scored three goals and H. Menzies one, making the Jinal score 18-17. The final will be played to-morrow afternoon.