POLO.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 18 May 1925, Page 9

POLO.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM IN N.S.W. BEATEN IN FIRST ROUND. s -• * By Cable —Press Association—Copjriglit. (Received May 17, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 16. The tournament for the Australasian Polo Cup challenge trophy presentee by Mr R. T. Melrose and Sir A. Hordern, for competition betvveen four of the Australian States and New Zealand, began On Kensington racecourse, yesterday. The weather was unpropitious, rain the previous night and throughout the day, making the ground sloppy and slippery, and preventing players from getting proper hold of their sticks. There were several falls, O. Nelson (No. 2 man iii the Dominion team) went down, in the first chukka, and again in the second, the latter fall shaking him so much tiiat he was compelled to retire, W. Campbell (reserve) taking his place.

Opening Match. The opening match was New South Wales Red team' against New Zealand. Owing to the dangerous condition ot the ground, the second match New South Wales AVliites versus Victoria was postponed. In the first cliukka, J. Lyons (No. 1) secured first blood for the visitors, but within a couple ol; minutes New South Wales equalised with a score just at the close of the term. lit the second cliukka, New South Wales added a couple of goals, their ponies appearing faster and their combination superior to tho New Zealand-

The third cliukka produced four more goals, while the New Zealand score remained unaltered. In the fourth cliukka, the visitors liveried up, and alter some line play, W. A. Mackenzie (back) scored, but New South Wales added t\Vo goals, making the scores 9 goals to 2.

The remainder of the game was played in a downpour, which drove the spectators to shelter. The New Zealanders defended welt, under very difficult conditions, bu,. could not prevent their opponents piling up points. In the final chukka, Lyons placed another goal to the . visitors’ credit, and the game ended: New South Wales 15 New Zealand 3 Tho visitors were obviously outpaced by players whose constant practice and participation in competitions had perfected their combination. The New Zealanders w.ere unlortunate in striking such wretched weather, but they are bound to show considerably improved form in the next contest. Nelson’s fall is not serious.