Polo.

Manawatu Herald, 18 February 1896, Page 3

Polo.

On Saturday afternoon the local Oroua Polo team met the celebrated Manawatu team, the holders of the Saville Cup, in a contest on the Oroua Olub's ground at Herringfcon. A large number were present expecting to witness a fine game, as it was felt certain the Oroua'a would do their beßt to score well, and the play of the Manawatu's was expeoted to be an object lesson. In polo, aB in most things in life, what is expeoted is not always realised. Tba Oroua'a played most excellently, being at one part of the game three goals ahead. By the scores attached it will be noticed Manawatu only secured the victory by one goal. The teams were : - Oroua J. R. McLennan, O. Eobinson, J. Strang, and B. Gower Manawatu S. Baker, Mcßae, Snow, and Hewitt. Mr A. E. T. Nixon was timekeeper, and Mr W. Strang was umpire. It was agreed to play six spells, Dut owing to extra time taken up during the game the last spell was only for 4£ minutes. The play on both sides was very good in the first Bpell and after a good deal of scrummaging Gower secured a goal about the middle of the time for the Oroua's and just at the end Bake? scored one for the Manawatu's, The spell ended with the score 1 and 1. The Becond spell saw some hard hitting and riding and Robinson about the middle of it secured a goal for his side, the only score made. Thus the score stood Oroua, 2 ; Manawatu, 1. The third spell made the prospects of victory for the home team even more rosy, as both Robinson and Gower secured a goal, and, as the Manawatu's failed to score, the spell , closed with Oroua 4to Manawatu's 1. Someone orossed Robinson causing nil pony to fall and in rising it trod on its rider's leg and back, which materially interfered with the finish of the game as the rider showed by his play that he was much shaken. The fourth spell saw Mcßae get 2 goals for his side, making the game Oroua, 4 Manawatu, 3. The fifth spell was well fongh' out Baker, however, getting one goal, thus making the score 4 all. The sixth spell was a very short ■ one, and three minutes after play began Hewitt got the winning goal. The Oroua'B bad a bit oi bad luck as on time being called they had the ball just on the goal line, which hrd they had time to finish, would have made the match a drawn one.