International Day

WIN OVER POMS HUGE BOOST FOR NEW ZEALAND POLO

International Polo Day just gets bigger, better and brighter every year at Paul Kay's World Class Nga Rakau polo ground in Kihikihi.

Despite rain threatening clouds, another huge crowd turned out to witness New Zealand upset the strongest Test team England could muster by 11 goals to severn on Saturday 13th February.

The skills shown by the superstars on each team were almost beyond the realms of possibility for a man mounted on a pony hitting a ball with such a small mallet head. "What a great day for New Zealand Polo" said Paul Kay post match. "To beat such a powerful side at home is a real feather in our cap - and the Colts gave their English counterparts a right royal drubbing (9 - 4) in thr curtainraiser."

But the N.Z. Polo Association President warned that the test win over England would make the 'Poms' much tougher to beat in the return match. New Zealand are to play England for the Coronation Cup at Guards Polo Club, Great Windsor Park in July 2010.

It was a magnificent come-from-behind victory by the kiwi quartet of Craig Wilson-1, Thomas Wilson-2, John-Paul Clarkin-3, Sam Hopkinson-4 after trailing 5-2 at halftime. The match was a great spectacle played at a frantic pace a mistake by either team inside their own territory would regularly br turned into a goal at the other end in a blink of an eye such was the calibre of horsemanship and stickwork of all eight players on the field.

Words of wisdom by coach Cody Forsyth and reserve Simon Keyte saw New Zealand eliminate the earlier mistakes in the fourth chukka and accordingly grow in confidence pushing passes about with great speed and precision. The Englishmen who enjoyed time on the ball in the first half were hustled and bustled into mistakes and three goals in as many minutes had N.Z. on equal terms, 5 all.

One of the plays of the match, a superlative backhand by inspirational kiwi skipper John-Paul Clarkin on halfway was well anticipated by Hopkinson on a run from the back. Two whooping hits whilst in full flight took him in front of the goal where he shown great composure to slow play down and make no mistake scoring. It was fantastic end-to-end play. New Zealand won the penultimate 5th chukka 3-1 to lead 8-7 and sealed the victory by winning the final chukka 3-0.

An ecstatic coach Forsyth told the players, "You just have to believe in yourselves."

By Colin Thorsen: Te Awamutu Courier.

Jubulent captain John-Paul Clarkin raises fist and nothing but winning smiles from left to right -

Sam Hopkinson, Tommy Wilson and Craig Wilson.

Best mates - Simon Keyte (Reserve) and John-Paul Clarkin seal the win - looked on by coach Cody Forsyth.