POLO.

Manawatu Herald, 4 May 1899, Page 2

POLO.

NEW ZEALAND v. MELBOURNE.

The Argus of 24th April reports :— Polo enthusiasts and a fashionable assemblage visited the Moonee Valley racecourse on Satnrday afternoon to watch the opening match of the New .Zealand team's Victorian tour. Lord Brassey drove his drag and four horses out, and with him were Lady Brassey, Lady Ranfurly, and Lady Constance Knox, Lord Richard Neville, Captain and Mrs Pakenham, the Hon. Hill Trevor, and Mr Cecil. Amongst others present were th« Mayor of Melbourne (Mr M. D. M'Eacharn), Sir T. N. Fitzgerald, M.L.C., and a number of prominent polo men, including Messrs. Philip Russell and H. M. Strachan (Geelong), G. Ware and B. Ware (Camperdown)^ Afternoon tea was provided in a large marquee, and the gathering, from a social point of view was very successful. As an exhibition of polo the game fell far below the mark, for the New Zealanders had everything their own way, and won easily by 11 goals 21 behinds to 3 bebinds. The Melbourne Polo Clnb is the weakest of the Victorian teams, but the players are improving. However, only one of their number, E. Fitzgerald played up to form, and his polo was always worth watching. J. Osborne was. very unwell and with his ponies out of practice he could do but little. Th« New Zealanders are a clever team, and are particularly well mounted. Their ponies, perhaps, did not show the pace of some of the Caramut or Camperdown ponies, but they were very clever and smart. What struck one most about the New Zealanders was there accuracy in hitting and their clever passing from one to another. In these points, however, it will remain to be seen how they compare with the teams they are to meet in the Western district during the next few weeks. They were never pressed on Saturday, and, though the captain expressed himself satisfied with their gallop, there was no means of comparing their form with that of Camperdown. However, it may be admitted that the visitors are a strong combination, and as they ar« in good form Victorian teams have to be on their mettle.

Three of the New Zealanders are members of the Oroua Club, which has held the Saville cup, which practically means the premiership of New Zealand for the last two years ; while Mr Baker, the captain, was captain of the Manawatu team, which previously held the premiership. Thus it will be seen that the visitors are a representative team. They have brought their own ponies with them, and a remarkably smart lot they are. Polo ponies seem to get to know the game soon, and, judging by Saturday's play what these New Zealand ponies do not know is now worth knowing. Most of the goals were hit by J. Strang and Baker, but it was evident that the visitors were not playing hard, and might easily have increased their score.

The tour of the New Zealand team began in New South Wales, where a team of Sydney players was defeated by 7 goals to i. To-morrow (Tuesday) a combined team of Victorian players, consisting of Messrs. Everard Browne, Andrew Chirnside, Philip Russell and E. Fitzgerald, will meet the visitors on the Moonee Valley course at 3 o'clock. Then the team go west to meet Geelong on April 38, Colac on May 3, Camperdown on May 6, Caramut on May 10, and on returning to Melbourne the visitors will play in the first intercolonial match between Victoria and New Zealand on May 13. The teams' in Saturday's match were:— New Zealand— Messrs. Baker (captain) and Strang (three). Melbourne — Messrs. E. Fitzgerald (captain), j. T. Lempriere, Jas. Osborne, andHyland.

The scores were :— New Zealand, 11 goals 21 behinds ; Melbourne, 3 behinds. Messrs H. M. Strachan and Williamson acted as umpires.