Evening star., 1896-07-04
AS PLAYED HERE
Growing Interest in the Game of
Polo and the Effect.
ACCURACY AND EASE REQUIRED
Comparisons Based on Obseva-
tons at the Recent Tournament.


Polo is comparatively q new diversion for
Washington men. and at present there are
not more than a score Of men in town who
play the gama, but thiE little nucleus will
soon be added to as the games OF the past
week on the plain at Fort Myer have
aroused the interest Of many men who
have the means and ability to enter the
game and strengthen the teams. Tho
game 1: one Of the most exciting In the
long list Of sports, and 1t Is equally dam
gerous, therein lying a portion Of the en-
joyment to most players.
That polo is not mere child's play nor q
game Of ''shinny" on ponies was Demon
strated to the large crowds that were
present at the tournament Of week ago.
The game demands good ponies. fast. agile
and quick at turning; also responsive TO
the slightest pressure, either OF rein or
leg; good riders capable Of leaving reins
alone and sticking to the saddle under
all circumstances except a fall: men who
are cool, heady and not over hasty in their
anxiety to make stroke or goal. Then
the men must have a system OF play and
each ono Of the four must realize that
he has a position to fill and is responsible
for certain plays and the defense OF GER
tain portions OF the neld.
The Philadelphia Country Club team not
only beat the Fort Myer and Washington
Polo Club teams, but taught them much
in the way Of Individual and tenn play.
It is doubtful II. with the handicap. the
Quakers could again defeat she 9Th Cav
airy officers. the latter have picked up
all the points Philadelphia played and to
them have added their own stock.
II was noticeable to all the spectators
that the Philadelphia men played with
degree Of certainty. while the local men
were somewhat uncertain. This. OF
course comes from long familiarity with
the game and with the methods OF the
individual members. The Philadelphians
AI-t-
and whichever man had the ball was COW
cred by another IN case Of miss. while
No. remained out of the game. so to
speak. guarding the goal
Defective Team Work.
On the contrary, both the local teams re-
nained punched too often and virtually
gave the ball to the visitors. who thereby
gained an easy start for goal This was
noticeable in the game Monday. though the
goal was guarded superbly. Frequently the
Washington men, in line like Indians cir
cling about a scalp pole. rode down on the
tail, and each Of the three missed: behind
came one Of their opponents. who would
carry the ball through the goal or back up
the field as the case demanded.
The Fort Myer team. which has been In
existence only since early spring. proved
that there is good material on II for O
crack team. The officers need to play with
more ease and greater accuracy in the
strokes. They rode well and at times play
ed brilliantly as individuals. but there was
not a good system Of team work such as
wins in polo. The team learned that the
lorg drive which they have so faithfully
practiced is not essential to winning, and
that Ehort strokes which can be relied
upon are more puzzling and make Il
hard for their opponents to obtain the
ball. The officers were weak In No. 4, AMI
frequently the goal was unguarded. which
made 1t easy for Philadelphia to take the
ball through without opposition at least
three times. If this position had been
played with greater care and energy the
result might have been different. Lieut..
Rhodes had an of day, for no one will
believe that he put up the game of which
he is capable. Mr.. Rhodes has in the
games with Chevy Chase played his posi-
tion in a strong style. The work of Lieut..
Hyer as No. 2. was at times of a high
order. especially in the second period, and
in the third Lieut.. White gave an exhi-
bition of fast riding and accurate hitting
Lieut.. Stout, who aiternated with Mr..
White, received a slight scalp wound but
played on, putting up plucky game under
many disadvantages. Lieut.. Short, captain
OF the team. played a dashing game, and
on Monday with Washington proved that
his proper position is No. 4. In front of the
goal he played q cool. heady game. pre-
venting the Philadelphias from scoring
several times.
Well-Trnined Ponies.
In Mondays game "Eave" Porter took
the laurels. and played the best game of
the tournament. He was dashing, even to
recklessness. and accurate In his strokes.
whether at slow gait or at full charge
He also made some phenomenal back hand
strokes. and left-side plays.
Much comment was heard at the games
about the seeming superiority of the WIS.,
itors' ponies. 1t Is doubtful If there was
any material difference in the ponies
though Philadelphia had the advantage in
having more mounts-four to each man
thereby having fresher ponies. Then their
ponies were perfectly trained, and this is