Polo.

Manawatu Herald, 28 January 1896, Page 2

Polo.

» On Saturday afternoon a very interesting game of Polo was played by the Rangitikei and Oroua Polo Club teams on the grounds of the latter club at Herrington, Foxton. This Is the first match played on the new ground and the visitors were well pleased with it. The Oroua Club rent the Jand from the Messrs Robinson's, and last year had the ground ploughed, levelled, and sown. The result appears most; satisfactory as the club possesses a . fall-sized ground as levokas a bowl- 1 ing greeu, and with pretty surroundings. The game was looked forward to with interest, as until last year the Rangitikei's first team were the holders of the Saville Cup, which the Manawatu Club at present hold, and a tussle with such a team was worth having, by the players, and witnessing by the public. Unfortunately however Messrs Blundell and Riddiford, two men of the old team were unable to come, the first from business engagements, and the other from illness. Messrs Keiller aud K. Dalrymple who came in their place appeared to be fcwo exceedingly good men. The teams were as follows :"-— Oroua : Maroon colours — MesßWl R. McLennan, captain and full-back, 0. Robinson forward, J. Strang f -back, and B. Gower half-back. Rangitikei : Yellow colours — Messrs J. G. Wilson, captain, A. Keiller, K. Dalrymple and Bills. Play was started punctually at 8 o'clock and it was agreed that the game should be for one hour in ten minutes spells. The play all through was very fast and very good, and it would be invidious to pick out any special player for praise. The teams were very evenly matched as the result shows, as well as by the manner the points were made. At the third stroke Gower almost scored a goal and again the same player did likewise at the end of the spell, which ended however in no score. This was the longest spell of the day and owing to no score and no touch out, lasted eighteen instead of ten minutes. The second spell witnessed determined and successful efforts by botb> teams to score. Moving about waa extremely lively as within the first five minutes Robinson secured a goal for Oroua, then Wilson made a great dart and scored for Rangifcikei and Strang ended the spell by another goal for the local team. The game standing at 2 to 1 goals for the Oroua's. Within three minutes of commencing the third spell one of the visiting team scored a goal, and within a couple of minutes Robinson added a goal for his side and in the three minutes succeeding Bills soored another goal for the visitors. The game became thus 4 all. The fourth spell was another graat effort by both teams to score but the men watched the ball so closely that it was only just near the close that Wilson got a score. Tnere was no score in the fifth spell, so the game resulted in a win by 1 point to Rangitikei. There were no serious accidents but Robinson got the ball on his head, shot there by one of his own

team, and Gower got thrown, the result of a collision. These are however trifles as light as air to a polo player. A good many visited the ground and Mrs McLennan hospitably those who did, and the team 3, with afternoon tea. We mentioned on Saturday that the Bangitikeis' came down by special tram, and they were met at the railway station by the Oroua's and taken to Whyte's hotel to hinch. Both teams had splendid ponies, good goers and well-cared for. The game was a well fought one and the return match will be worth going some distance to see.