EAST COAST POLO ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2136, 11 March 1908, Page 2

EAST COAST POLO ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL. TOURNAMENT,

Tliero was a largo attendance at MakaurL yesterday, when the East Coast polo tournament was continued. Tho going was a trifle heavy after the rain, but a capital altornoon s play resulted. The final in tho Open Cun competition was fought out between Poverty Bay 1. and Mangaheia I. The teams wore as under: — Mangaheia I.—lt, K. Murphy 1, Cf. M. .Reynolds 2, It. C. Murphy 3, It. Black (back). Poverty Bay I.—E. M. Monckton 1, T. Sherratt 2, It, 11. Slicrratt 3, J. it. Alurphy (back). Tho game openen with very fast play, and there were many last rushes. "Mangaheia had the better mounts, but. Poverty Bay’s combination was superior, and enabled them to attack for the greater r>art of tho first spell, and score a goal. Some hard riding was done, and Rob. Murphy spilled his brother Jack, whoso horse broke, its shoulder. Rob. Murphy, who was in tho thick of the fray always, also unseated Thornley Sherratt. These spills were consequent on the particularly last nature of the play. Tho second spell was very stubbornly contested, and saw some very exciting passing rushes bv both sides. In this spell both teams put on two goals. ' In the next spell Mangaheia attacked with fine combination, and they succeeded in adding three goals to their score. , , . Poverty Bay attacked hotly in the fourth spell, but Randall Sherratt’s mount knocked up, and Mangaheia notched-a goal from a melee m front of the posts. , _ In the following bout, Poverty Bay had tho advantage, their ponies being fleeter-footed than those of their opponents. Some fine play was seen in this spell, which saw Poverty Bay add two goals and Mangaheia one. _ Tho polo played throughout was of a. high standard, and a fitting finale to the Open Cup competition ended: Mangaheia I. ® • Poverty Bay I. ... ••• J Messrs "Williamson and Murphy were the umpires, and Mr. E. It. Murphy timekeeper. AA'aiapu and Mangaheia 11. then mot in tho Handicap Cup competition. Tho teams took the field as undCT AYaiapu (handicap .16): K. S. AV.il* liams 1, Busby 2, A. B. AVilliams 3, Saxby (back). _ Mangaheia 11. (handicap 18): D. HHawkins 1, J. Rutledge 2, It. Black 3, L. Rutledge (back). The teams were evenly matched, and a closo contest saw both teams put on four goals, Mangaheia 11. thus winning by 22 to 20. , , , • ■To-day the polo sports will bo held, tho programme opening on the Alakara'ka racecourse at 10.30 with the Rom Cup, for which a largo number of horses have been entered. At 11.30 the Mangaheia team, which proceeds to Wellington to compete for the Saville Cup and handicap competition at the end of tho month, plays a scratch team, in order to give the Mangaheia representatives a game together. The teams will be: ' . Mangaheia: A. B. AVilliams 1, Geo. Reynolds 2, R, C. Murphy 3, J. R. Murphy (back). Scratch team: M. Murphy 1, 1. Sherratt 2, R. K. Murphy 3, R. Sherratt (back). After lunch the polo sports will bo held, the principal events on the pro- ■ • -•■>« being: Thread-the-Nccdle T>.;,!“'Elni7 Race, Bending Compclir.M w>™»» M»“. I* Ball Race, and AVpistlmg Race.