Polo. OROUA v. MANAWATU.

Manawatu Herald, 17 January 1899, Page 3

Polo. OROUA v. MANAWATU.

A WELL-CONTESTED GAME. Last Saturday the above teams mci at Palmerston, and from the report it the Standard the game was worth going some distance to see. The plaj was fast and furious, and pretty equal to best tournament style. Play was commenced by a fast rush on the part of the Orouas, in which unfortunately the two champion " Number Two," A. S. Baker and J. Strang, collided, the result being that Baker got a bad spill. The first spell was almost through when J. Strang hit the first goal for Oroua, and a second was quickly added by very good play on the part of B. Gower. A. -S. Baker then took possession, and after a fine run scored, the spell thus ending Oroua 2, Manawatu 1. Shortly before the second spell ended a very fine rush of the Orouas gave Gower another opportunity of scoring, which he did not tail to take, the spell ending Manawatu, 1 ; Oroua, 3. In the third spell through the good play of A. and*J. Strang another goal was scored by A. Strang. Manawatu 1 ; Oroua, 4. The fourth spell was more even. The Manawatu made desperate attempts to get away, but W. Strang was too sure, and after some fine individual play J. Strang again scored. Things looked bad, but Snow by a fine run got the ball through, F. Mcßae being very much in evidence. This ended the spell : Manawatu, 2 ; Oroua, 5. The fifth spell was the best of the lot. Baker was warming up to his work and getting over his spill, but in spite of the determined efforts of the local men, they were unable to score, W. Strang playing very strong. The Orouas possibly showed their best form in this spell, the Manawatus having certainly improved their play. Mcßae was playing hard and beginning to show his old form. Both J. and A. Strang were playing a very fine game and J. Strang's pony 11 Moana " was quite the best pony on the ground. In this spell both J. and A. Strang scored. The spell ended Oroua 7, Manawatu a. The last spell was chiefly a series of fast rushes, both Baker and Mcßae playing a very fine game indeed. The local men added 3 goals to their score, Mcßae being responsible for two, and Baker taking the other. The Oroua men did not increase, and the game ended Oroua 7, Manawatu 5. The most consistent and most dashing game on the ground was probably played by J. Strang, but all the Oroua men played well, and Gower was in better form than he has been tor a long time. There was more talking and calling the umpire than there should have been, but probably the spirits of friendly rivalry between these two clubs is very keen and accounts for this. It is very certain, however, that the Manawatu men would rather be beaten by the Orouas than any other team in New Zealand and we might almost say the Orouas are the only ones that could do it. '