POLO.

Manawatu Herald, 6 May 1899, Page 2

POLO.

NEW ZEALAND v. A VICTORIAN TEAM.

The Argus of 26th April say :— A polo match was played yesterday at the Moonee Valley racecourse between the team of New Zealand players who are at present touring Australia and a mixed team from the principal Victorian polo clubs. The four players who took the field yesterday for Victoria, with all skilful exponents of the game, are by no means the strongest team that the colony can put forward, and though they were singally defeated, the New Zealanders have still to meet antagonists who may turn the tables on them in the Western district. Yesterday, the Victorian players were Mr Andrew Chirside, Mr Everard Browne, Mr E. Fitzgerald, and Mr Philip Russell, while the New Zealanders were Mr J. Strang, Mr A. Strang, Mr Baker and Mr Robinson. Mr G. Williams umpired for the New Zealanders, and Mr J. Osborne for the Victorians. After the recent - heavy rainfall the ground was in a condition "which made it anything but easy to play scientific polo, for the going was so heavy that the ball stuck in the earth and occasionally sank so deep that it presented only half its surface to the striker. In spite of this disadvantage, however, the visiting team scored fast, and completely outclassed their opponents at all points of the game. Their concerted play was quite a revelation to local players, and their clean hard hitting was wonderfully accurate. Wristy cuts and long driving strokes were brought off repeatedly with remarkable precision, and in the science of " aiding off" an opponent and skilful passing the New Zealand players showed themselves adepts. It was hard work for the ponies in the heavy ground, but the New Zealand contingent showed

themselves very handy, and they kept well up to the ball. Mr A. Strang, who was the number i of the New Zealand team played a brilliant game and was ably supported while Mr P. Russell was most conspicuous for the Victorian side. From the commence, ment of the game the superiority of the visitors was manifest, and by welljudged centring and accurate combined play they kept the Victorians on the defensive most of the time^ Owing to the sticky state of the ground ■-■ the hitting for goal showed as unusually large number of behinds, and the final scores were : — New Zealand, 7 goals 6 behinds ; Victoria, 2 goals 2 behinda. Lady Brassey, attended by Lord Richard Nevill and Mr Cecil, drove to the Moonee Valley racecourse to wit- j ness the polo match between teams resresenting Victoria and New Zealand. There was a considerable gathering of ladies present. The visitors were entertained at afternoon tea by the members of the Melbourne Polo Club.