Savile 2010

Posted by on 11 March 2010 | 0 Comments

Kihikihi Polo Club experienced mixed fortunes at the recent Savile Cup tournament held at Tangimoana, Rangitikei recently.. Kihikihi were the only club to send three teams down to contest all three sections. Cambridge, Auckland and Waimai each sent a team to the Wilson cup section and Kihikihi and Auckland contested the Riddiford and Levin 3 goal section. Due to injuries, the 2009 Savile Cup winners Waimai A were not able to field a team.

The Kihikihi B team however scored enough points to play in the Open final of the Wilson Cup in the Medium Goal section against Hawke’s Bay B winning  8 – 4  but the game was shortened to four chukka’s when the HB player Ollie Jones had a bad fall from his horse minutes into the first chukka and had to be airlifted to the Palmerston North hospital. Over an hour later the game resumed with Ed White taking his place.

The Kihikihi B team had one hiccup on the way to the final, losing to Presidents team in their third game 4 – 6  but winning comfortably against Rangitikei by 16 – 3 and Wanstead 6 – 4. It was a good final with father Stephen and daughter, Chloe teaming up with Lanto Sheridan from England and Edward Kay at number 4.

The senior team kept everyone guessing the final results of their second game when their played against Port Hills from Christchurch. After the second chukka the score was 7-1 to the opposition, constantly fouling to give Port Hills five unanswered goals from penalties.

The third chukka saw Robert Watson rise from the ashes and get four goals, two from penalties then once again Port Hill raced away to an 11-6 score.  The Kihikihi fight back was awe inspiring in the last two chukkas scoring 7 to Port Hill’s two and final score was 13 all to the relief of the supporters. Their other results were 11-10 to Kihikihi against Wanstead and lost against Rangitikei 10-13.

But it was encouraging to win the Senior Handicap Cup 7-4 ½ and bring home some silverware. They started with determination and were 4 to 1 ½ at the end of the second chukka only taking their foot off the pedal in the third chukka to let Wanstead score two goals.

The two teams to contest the old cup however were deserved finalists with scores 5 all at half times.

Gary Vickers from the Cambridge team, filled the no.4 slot in the in Rangitikei team. H played the best polo of his career was the general consensus. Glen Sherriff, originally from Poverty Bay rounded off a very balanced team. They were the arch rivals of their old team mate Will Lucas from England and playing in the Christchurch team along with another Englishman David Allen and Matt O’Sullivan. Port Hills were winning 8-5 at the end of the 4^thc chukka but the Gary Vickers and Angus McKelvie combination were too strong and won they 12-10 with Glen Sherriff and Cam McKelvie providing the balance and Glen Sherriff winning the player of the tournament trophy.

Robert Watson won the fair player award when he picked up an opposition mallet from the ground during the Rangitikei game

The Kihikihi C won all their preliminary games to the open final of the Riddiford Levin Cup but lost their rhythm and hitting power in the final, going down 3-6 to Rangitikei.