Late spot Amuri wins polo title

Press, 9 April 1979, Page 6

Late spot Amuri wins polo title

I In a hard, fast display of polo played in difficult conditions, Amuri A won the final of the Gould Cup against Ashburton B, 8-4, when the South Island championships ended at Ryans Road yesterday. I' Although the skies overhead were clear and the weather warm, a sudden downpour just before rhe match started made the playing field greasy and sticky. Ponies had trouble keeping their balance and the players were constantly trying to avoid pieces of flying turf. In the semi-finals, Amuri had given a fine team performance to beat Ashburton A, 8-3, scoring three times in i the fourth of the five chukikas, and Ashburton B nari rowly beat, a gallant Waimate IA side, 4-3. In this match, i Ashburton led, 4-0, after four chukkas but Waimate rallied and scored three times, through Robbie Meyer, George and Mick Hennessey.; The final started at al furious pace and four goals: came in the first chukkal alone. Alan .Calder and Graeme Higginson, who had a fine game, scored for Amuri and John and Michael Askin for Ashburton.

! The teams were still level ' after the second chukka — Grant Withell scoring from i a 60-yard hit for Ashburton land Dick McLachlan finishing a skilful team movement for Amuri. John Askin and Calder ! scored in the third chukka land Calder added his third I in the fourth chukka. One of I the best goals came soon after when McLachlan took the ball three-quarters of the I length of the field for Amuri and Calder added the final I touch, putting the ball between the posts, giving Amuri a 6-4 lead. , Calder scored the final two j goals, giving him six for the ‘match. It was Amuri’s third j Gould Cup win in its 15lyear history. The game was notable for the appearance of three Askin brothers, Michael, John and Andrew, in the Ashburton side. Blenheim C gave a good I performance to beat Wairarapa in the final of the Plaisted Cup for junior teams. The final score was 3-2, Amuri B beat Ashley, 44-1, to win the Rhodes Cup. a plate event for senior teams, while Amuri C beat Amuri D, 14-1, to win the Michael Bellerby Cup for junior teams.