Polo.

Manawatu Herald, 11 March 1899, Page 2

Polo.

«. L. MANAWATU v. OROUA. [By Offside ] As thia heading ism all probability the announcement; for the final of 'his year' N.Z. Saville Gap at thePalmerston tournament it may be rf interest to hear an onlooker's view of the game played last Saturday on the Hokowhitu grounl. Oona— The three and Robinson (it seems a pity, does it not, that there is not another Strang ? but he would hay to be a great player to be up to thi« R »binson'a form), they are four heavy Wel> mounted m^n, a team that could hold itk own in any part of the world This side scored 6 goals (wo dribbling flukes it's true, bit the balanc , four well played and directed through out). Allan Sprang, No. 1, could not be beaten, very steady ; Jack Strang a great player, imm»nwly strong ar oferneck shots. 0. R >bin>on, a very clean player and probibly the hard eat and farthest hitter in the colony. Walter Strang plays back better thaianywhere else, a fine player bat slightly inclined to " row " Their play, as a whole, was virtually fault.less With the exception of a bit of misplaced confidence in 3pall Nj. 4, when 1 and 2 left a clear ball, to rid** off for No. 3 wh j n No. 3 wa- " away " to speak, thus leaving tht 11 open " ball and game to Baker. Mauawatu— W. Elkingtoo (1), A.. S Baker (2), F. Snow. (4) and W. Lloyd (3). Thia team did as well as could be expected considering the four following reasons : No 1. bad never played in that place before ; No 2 was. very seedy, hiving just got out of bed from an attack of influ enza ; No. 8 had not played to speak of for 12 months, and No. 4 'a ponies are very little use to him, being slow and with no condition ; one, the grey apparently "funkiog" tha ball badly. This team scored 8 goals, 2 by Baker and 1 by Lloyd. - They had hard luck throughout, missing 3 g mis by only a few feet after bring ing the ball right up from their adversaries goal line. When this team get together and play together, they I <hou!d still be abla to give a very good account of themselves in the Polo week. As to individual play. W E king on payed better than we've ever him, and should be ible to play No. 1 very fairly with * little practice. 8. Baker, as of old, itwaya there or thereabout, but hi 11 seediness " was evident and h w»s not quite up to form. W Lloyd, considering hi<* 12 month ' aoell, was all right but of cours- " mi^pd it" now and then. F "*now played bsck f»r the first tim for a long while, and although no alfcog th-T " shining " there, played steadily and gavp few back-hand rai'w. H ■ wuild play ten tim°s »? | wll if h* w^r- better mounted, &n< j i r . seetiH a pi y io view of this t >urn • ment hf d >es no. g»t another good pony to hi-» s ring. Th* gimn w>»f jv th th ••. cx^p'ion of spall N>. 4. vh eh wa« a hit "sticky-") a fa«» •ne throughout, thoroughly enjoyed iy the onlookers. I c1ob& thesi n r »t93, wishing our local team thair • ehaie ' of luck, wh a they should be aba to have a good look in for th<* }.ip — Sandard.