Polo.

Manawatu Herald, 30 December 1897, Page 2

Polo.

MANAWATU v. OBOUA.

MANAWATU WINS BT 7 TO 5.

On Tuesday afternoon a very latere, ting game of polo was played by thn Manawatu and Oroua polo teams. Contrary to expectation the Manawatu won the match by two goals.

Tbe afternoon was very fine with a slight breeze blowing, and tbe ground at Herrington was in very good going order.

There was a very good attendance of onlookers, the most hoping to see tha local team succeed in putting down the ever-victorious Manawatus, though they freely aoknowiedged some of the best strokes and play of tbe visitors.

Tho members of the Wellington team were present and much enjoyed the tactics of the game as displayed by the two competing teams.

Afternoon tea was provided by the ladies.

The game was a spirited and fast one, though it will be noticed in our- . report that the first two spells witnessed the .coring of three goals by the Manawatu right off the re6J. The Oroua men did not lose heart, v - but on the contrary tbeir reverses appeared* to have urged tbem on to what looked like victory as they then shifted tbe position cf their mcd. and in the fourth .pell ran up a score of 8. At the start 0. Robinson was placed at No. 4, where he is not accustomed to play aod after the third spell Strang changed places with him, to the advantage of the team. The teams were as under : — Manawatu. — Giesen 1, Baker 2, Snow 8, Eikington 4. Oroua. — J. Strang 1, Gower 2, A. Strang 8, Robinson 4. THE GAME. First Spell. — From the start the Oroua flaen took the ball down to the Manawatu goal and kept it there, the ball never getting to the centre till ju«t as the spell was ending, when Snow got bold of it near the goal and worked it across the field and in a very quick manner scored one for his side. Time was then called. Game— Manawatu 1, Oroua 0. Second Spell. — Soon after opening it looked as if tbe Oroua men would make a score, as A. Strang got well at the ball and in tbree hits took it up to the Manawatu gflal, but the try was baulked by the visitors who rushed it up to the Oroua's goal near which they kept it unti. Baker passed it through the posts. On the ball being thrown in great efforts weae put forth by both sides but Baker got a rush on and again drove tha balfto score. Game -Manawata 8, Oroua 0. Third Spkll. — Manawatu got the ball in the Oroua's ground and kept it there until J. Strang got in a grand hit which caused a good deal of hunting to save damage. Just at the close Snow scored for his side by a powerful hit high in the air, so different from his general bowling, and flew the ball over the centre line of the goal. Game— Manawata 4, Oroua 0. Fourth Spell. — The Orouas pulled .themselves well together in this spell, as directly the ball was thrown in Robinson got some capital drives at it and narrowly missed scoring, falling just outside the post, the ball was no sooner on the ground when A. Strang smartly placed it through the posts, making the first score for > the home team. Then followed some. fine sparring out of which Gower picked up the ball and scored. Play was not long resumed before J. Strang by some grand hitting sueceededin placing another notch to the oredit of his team. On time being called the game Btood Manawatu 4, Oroua 8. Fifth Spell. — This spell also witnessed some capital playing, each side contesting its hardest, and from the start the Orouas took the ball down to the Manawatu goal and gave that team all their work to defend it, hut towards the cloae f- aker got the ball away down the

field and secured a goal. Game - Manawatu 5, Oroua 8. Sixth Spell.— -Without doubt this was the most exciting spell of the day, the visitors desiring to add more scores whilst the Orouas wanted to get some for themselves and to prevent their opponents scoring. This being the last opportunity botb sides played for all they knew and the game was very fast and the hitting hard. Snow very quickly after the jg^ppening hit one of his straight running balls through the posts thus making the Manawatu scote 6, and lost no time in doing ditto at the other end of the ground, from the ball brought up to him. This made the visitors 7 to Orouas 3, but on play commencing on the ball beitig thrown in A. Strang got hold of it, and by fine ridirTg and bitting secured a soore. A fine bit of play then •' took plaoe in 'which attempts to hit the ball were made and frustrated, ▲ a la fencing, when Bobinson got the "ball aod scored. Time was up, the grcame ending Manawatu 7, Oroua 5. W' 'Mr Cooper, of Wellington, was ** umpire and his decisions were '. accepted without question. Mr F. Bobinson was timekeeper.