POLO TITLE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20734, 18 February 1939, Page 23 (Supplement)

POLO TITLE

DOMINION SUPREMACY PROSPECTS OF CAMBRIDGE FORM FOR SAVILE CUP GAMES (By “Chukka”) A month only remains before the opening of the New Zealand polo championships at Feilding on March 20 when the Savile Cup—emblem of supremacy in the Dominion —and the Australasian Gold Cup will bo the feature contests of the big fixture. Three weeks only are left for further preparation by lhe players and a great, deal of practice and limberingup of the ponies will be accomplished in that time. For the past three years the Cambridge team lias held the Savile Cup. Keen discussion among polo enthusiasts centres at the moment around the team’s prospects of retaining the title for Hie fourth consecutive year, a feat which, while equalled by Christchurch and Manawalu, has been excelled only by Hawke’s Bay when that club held the trophy from 1907 to 1912. llawke’s Bay again held the trophy between 1920 and 1924 which, as there was no contest in 1922. gave them a run of four wins. Cambridge's prospects at the moment are removed from the realms of certainty and a considerable improvement in the team's present form will require to be revealed at Feilding. Uncertainties of Form As in all other games, polo prospects can seldom be described in classification of certainties when championship form is under consideration. When 'Cambridge swept home to victory for the first time in the club's history at Feilding in 1936 the result was somewhat surprising to many followers of the game. To hold the trophy at Christchurch the

When 'Cambridge swept home to victory for the first time in the club's history at Feilding in 1936 the result was somewhat surprising to many followers of the game. To hold the trophy at Christchurch the following year the team rode a game right out of the box. There was no doubt that the team deserved its third consecutive victory at Claudelands last year in" eliminating Hawke's Bay in the manner it did in the semi-final but the display revealed on that occasion was one that has not been repeated since. Its brilliance removed it far distant from the neighbourhood of stock form. So in the last three years Cambridge have been capable of rising to great heights when the Savile Cup hovers in the balance. No doubt it can be done again. To those followers of the sport who consider that the Cambridge form is not up to the standard required to retain the coveted trophy again this season there is that obscured ability of the combination to play far beyond general expectations which will have to be taken into consideration. Combination Was Lacking Whatever the outcome at Feilding, the Cambridge team may be expected to make a strong bid for the cup but the form revealed by the quartette in the contest for the Cameron Cup against the unsuccessful challenge from Matangi at Cambridge last Saturday will have to be improved. As individuals the team practically measured up to their respective handicaps, but a combination was lacking, to a degree almost, that eliminated such a thing as combination from the game.

Highest handicapped player in New Zealand the Cambridge star, Ken Peake, should have little difficulty in retaining his ten ranking this season. Last Saturday he did not reveal anything of his true brilliance until the concluding stages of the game, but what was seen indicated that he has not lost any of his touch. That he did not shine as much as usual may be accounted for by the rough nature of the ground and also the fact that several of his ponies are not yet in trim. He has again a fairly pleasing string of mounts which should give him every assistance on the fine field at Feilding, which is probably the finest turf for polo in the Dominion. Under such conditions, the southern spectators can expect many thrills from Peake. L. R. Kay, who joined the ranks of the Cambridge A team last season and who held the side together in the early stages of the tussle against Hawke's Bay when the position for the trophy-holders seemed almost hopeless, did not appear to be on handicap form last Saturday. R. Nolan's chief attribute is his ability to ride-off. That is his task as the number one player and he has only to hold his man carefully to repeat the Stirling performance he registered at Claudelands last year. Upon his ability to clear the way will depend the s‘uccess of K. Peake's solo gallops. Hawke’s Bay’s Strong Bid The fact that R. Peake, who may be in line this season for an addition to his handicap of six, was not available for the game against Matangi may have weakened the team’s combination. R. Hannon, who replaced R. Peake, lias been seen in better form. The combination problem is one which Cambridge will require to improve. Most serious challenge for the Savile Cup will again come from Hawke's Bay whose players are in excellent form this season and anxious to lift the Savile Cup which has been away from their club since 1930. Hawke's Bay have held the trophy on 13 occasions altogether. The team undoubtedly has the finest combination in New Zealand but at 'Claudelands lost, season it was proved that combination even of the finest degree cannot match the si."-'.', tactics which have made uambridigo r« nowned and which came as a surprise to the Australian teams facing the successful New Zealand quartette in the Gold Cup contests at Sydney last season. The tactics, which have been fostered by Waikato teams, have given a new complex to polo which, as a result, has become much faster. More Match Play Wanted Unless Cambridge improve their combination to the. standard which enables the shock tactics whereby lliree plavers l'an out holding oIT their men while K. Peake comes in with a s «,lo control right round tin* dank m* up Hie centre, the Hawke's Bay .style of play may prevail. More match

play is definitely required by the Cambridge players although the ponies cannot be overworked from now on. The team has had practically no match play this season and although practices have been regular the same result is not obtained as under match conditions. The Matangi team also will go to Feilding for the Savile Cup contest. The team is definitely on the improve although their display last Saturday against Cambridge was not impressive. For the first three chukkas the side played well but faded rather poorly. No doubt the lack of sufficient good ponies was responsible to a large degree for this. .1. R. Rangtead should need only u. retain the form he revealed in the Cameron Cup game to hie to have his liandic ip raised to the six mark. George Peake, an eight handicap man. was in fairly good form, while Iluwlelt has an improving game which should enable him to become an excellent number one. He played well last season at •Claudeiaud:- and earned a five handicap. wiiich is bettered by only 15 polo plaver» in Hie Dominion. 11. Peake, who was one of the most prornisiu* players in the Cambridge Club some rears ago until pul out of the saddle by ,iiiiT trouble, played for Aotea last >ear and ro\eui.*d ,• oinisc of cumin;- back with his former dish. With Matangi Hus ,n. he did md snow up a r ie.il deal mi 5..1 ;irda>. but