Rain doesn’t deter young riders
The New Zealand high school polo team defeated their Australian rivals over the weekend, despite wet weather forcing two venue changes.
Originally scheduled to cap off the first South Island Schools and Universities Polo Association (SUPA) tournament on Sunday at Waireka Polo Farm, wet weather forced the whole day to be moved.
After shifting to the Rangiora A&P Showgrounds, the 23 team schools competition was postponed until next Sunday (April 2). But the international visitors were here to play and it was the first time a mixed team had faced off against the Australians in New Zealand. The test match moved to the Amuri Polo Club grounds in Culverden.
The New Zealanders; Zoe Reader, Madeline Hutchinson, George Cronin and Sefton’s Lachie Appleby rode against Australians Hamish Dowling, Anna Dowling, Enzo Mascarti and Katrine Osbourne.
Both teams had two reserve players on the bench; Skye Turner and Will Appleby for New Zealand and Will Arthur and Jock Mitchell from Australia.
SUPA president Willie Davidson said players started slow, but things got going once the Kiwis started to rack up the goals.
‘‘It would be fair to say that the first chukka [quarter] didn’t really get going with both sides very nervous and not chancing their arm. However it was New Zealand that took the initiative and scored a couple of goals to take the early lead.’’
At the end of the fourth chukka New Zealand had taken the day with a 5 – 2 win.
Lachie Appleby was awarded most valuable player after running rampant over the Australians, scoring four of the Kiwi’s five goals, Davidson said.
‘‘That was because his team mates did a great job of marking those players who would have threatened Lachie.’’
Davidson said the sport was growing now due to it being more accessible. Horses could be provided to those young riders who did not have the luxury of owning horses themselves.
‘‘At school level, these kids are paying $40 a week to come out, get on a tacked horse and play some polo ... It’s achievable for anybody. It’s not just a private school game, not at all.’’
During the week leading up to the test match, the Australian team played and lost against a combined Christchurch high schools team in the Port Hills, a Christ’s College team at Wigram and then drew against a combined Girls High, Boys High team at Wigram. Teams from the United States and South Africa have also toured New Zealand.
The postponed schools tournament would be held this weekend, Sunday at Waireka Polo Farm, from 9am. Davidson said they would normally cancel, not postpone, the tournament, but the decision was made to continue due to the large number of teams involved.