The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-07
EXCELLENT TEAM WORK
Butte Polo Players Defeat the
Anaconda Men.
SCORE: FOUR TO NOTHING
1t Was as Pretty Contest as Polo
Crank Would Desire to See-A
Remarkable Game From
Start to Finish.

The Butte polo players defeated the
Anaconda team yesterday afternoon at
the Butte rink by score of to 0 in
as pretty a contest as the greatest of
polo cranks could wish to see. 1t was
a remarkable game for numerous rea-
sons. 1t was notable as being the first
match polo game ever played in Mon
tana, and was characterized by fast
playing and excellent team work on
both sides. .skillful interference which
admitted of but few long runs, and
perhaps most praiseworthy of all. the
showing made by the visi-
tors, some of whom never played
the game before and all but one or
two exceptions being products of this
season. In view of the manner in
which they were thus handicapped, it
is surprising that they We're able to
hold down the trained Butte players
as well as they did. While the score
appears one-sided, the game was not
so in any other respect, for Butte's
goal was repeatedly threatened, and
only the clever work of Green, Butte's
goal tender, prevented the visitors
from scoring. Time after time the ball
shot straight and hard for Butte's
flags but was as often stopped by
Green, whose method of watching the
goal is as novel and original as it
proved successful yesterday. His
feet were always in front OF the ball,
and his stick frequently sent it flying
back down the field. Altogether, it was
a most excellent game. and was won
by the home team by the superior skill
gained by greater experience. With
sufficient practice the Anaconda team
will make the Buttes earn any laurels
they win.
The day was not an ideal one for
polo, yet it was not without its ad
vantages. The mildness CT the tenn
perature caused the ice to be covered
with water, making the playing un-
pleasant for the participants, still the
ice was firm and the water did not in
terfere with the fast and exciting ma
ture of the play, and the warm wealth
CT made watching the game a pleasure,
and had the public realized what an
interesting game was in store and with
what comfort it might be witnessed.
the crowd, which was small. would have
been all the rink could have accom-
modated, and the enthusiasm which
was limited only by the small number
of spectators would have been worked
to a high pitch by the exciting encoun-
terS which came SO fasl and furious
throughout that it is a wonder none of
the players We're seriously injured.
That no one was badly hurt was due
to the fact that while the play could
hardly have been faster, it was not
lndrTeu DN any TouS1HeSS, all tne
players entering into the sport with
much moderation in that respect. The
only player injured in any way was
McCloy of the visitors, who had a
tooth loosened, but it was purely by
accident.
The general features of the game
were the team work, both on the often
sive. the players of both teams work
ing well together which prevented the
individual players from distinguishing
themselves by spectacular perform
ances eXcept in a very few instances.
These were a run of half the length of
the rink by Bowers of the home team,
late in the second half; a spectacular
put to goal also by Bowers; hot
speed encounter between Conway of
Butte and McCloy of the visitors, the
sprnters of the two teams and a SEN
sational stop of a hot shot for plays
which was achieved by Hammond of
the Anacondas.
Individually every player acquitted
himself with great credit according to
the opportunities that presented them
selves. Perhaps the best work was
done by Bowers of the Buttes whose
skill contributed very largely to the
final result. He is an experienced play
er. who handles his stick with great
skill and shoots with wonderful preci-
sion. Because. of this fact he was en-
abled to distinguish himself above the
other players, who fed him constantly.
thus affording him many opportunities
he would not otherwise have had OF
the rest of the Butte men. Kennedy
worked cleverly in single combinations
with Bowers, and also in combination
with Bowers. Lockhart, ellis and
Conway. He issalso strong sure shot
LCckhart is perhaps the best manipu-
lator of the stick in the Butte team.
He was always in the right place at
hn toht and nv his oil
with his stick was able to take the ball
AZ will. He had it more times than
any other man in the game. Time aft
err time, by clever maneuver, he
would secure the rubber sphere and
shoot il the whole lengt-. of the field
back into Anaconda territory. Conway
came next III effectiveness. His great
speed frequently enabled him to out
strip his opponents and carry the ball
to Anaconda's goal. He was also very
effective in the combination work. Gill
lis played steady, sure and strong.
and perhaps the cleanest game of any
of the team. Greene and Freer had
fewer opportunities than the other
players, but did what they had to do
with great skill, and Greene's work at
goal was undoubtedly all that pre-
vented the visitors from scoring.
The visitors nearly all exhibited
lack of experience and want of coach
ing and practice, and We're further
handicapped by the kind of skates
used They all wore clamps instead of
skates screwed to their shoes, and it
was a frequent occurrence for player
to lose his skate just at a time when it
proved expensive. They all, neVerthe-
less. acquitted themselves with much
individual credit. Sullivan was very
fast and played an excellent check
game. McCloy. whose skating has al
ways been for speed. in which he wore
only the long skates. was unaccus-
toned to the short polo runners. hav-
ing only recently Joined the team, and
was therefore at considerable of dis
advantage, yet he was of great service
in the skirmishes and was an invalu-
able man. His hot clashes with Con-
way furnished some of the prettiest
features Of the game. Plat and
Thebe. two of the more experienced
men Of the team. each played a crack
check game and doged cleyerly in car
rying the ball. Plat was also