News from the New Zealand Polo Association -- www.polo.org.nz

The Morrinsville "Claytons" Tournament
11-12 Dec
The tournament you have when you don’t have a tournament.

posted: December 22, 2004

Correspondent - Simon Keyte.

Leading up to the weekend of the 11th and 12th of Dec the weather had looked far from favourable for playing a polo tournament. Nevertheless Morrinsville went ahead and prepared for the opening weekend. Surprisingly, for this time of year, there was great enthusiasm for entering teams and unfortunately we couldn't cater for the masses that were keen to play. From memory there were 53 names submitted. We played 2 grades run over 2 days. 4 teams in the 12 goal and 6 teams in the 2 goal.

Having 6 teams competing in the 2 goal section meant that the 2 best winners overall would play each other in the final on Sunday. The 2 teams with the highest margins on Saturday were Morning Star B and Morrinsville B. The Morning Star team, having beaten Pah Flats 6-3, and Morrinsville B defeating Cambridge B 5-2.

For the senior section we saw Morning Star run out the winners over Mystery Creek 9-3 and Cambridge A out muscling Morrinsville A 6-2½.

Sunday saw more threatening forecasts weather wise but we decided to chance it and press on. At 10am Pah Flats played Glen Murray. In this match we witnessed a great display from the opposing captains, Kevin Gray and Tom Morley, both showing leadership and offering constructive criticism.

At 11am Cambridge B played Mystery Creek B. This was to be a very one-sided affair. The Mystery Creek team could do no wrong taking the win 9-1. Will Hunt, for the Cambridge B team, at 12 years of age showed tremendous skill and determination and is most certainly one to keep your eye on in the future.

At midday we had the 2 goal final between Morning Star B and Morrinsville B. Morning Star B got away to an early lead and looked like running all over Morrinsville B but after a team talk at half time Morrinsville B combined to claw a couple back. Roo Barlow captained the Morning Star team superbly and they won the final 5-3.

The 1.30pm match was between Morrinsville A and Mystery Creek A. This was classic 4 man polo. Players, all of similar handicaps, making for a very tightly fought match. It wasn't until the 5th chukka that Mystery Creek A edged ahead and couldn't be stopped. The Watson cousins scoring 4 goals between them in the late stages.

Finally the last game of the day was between Morning Star A and Cambridge A. This was to be a hard tussle. It started as a very open and running game with both teams converting twice in the first chukka. Both teams realised to give each other space would be a mistake. It soon became a tactical affair. Allan Browne was tireless for Cambridge A and worked his team brilliantly. Morning Star A, a little bit shell shocked with the new regime, took a while to settle before pawing there way to victory. Arthur Morgenstern showed his boys how it is done by scoring 2 scorchers from one end of the field to the other.