The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-06-16
WILL PLAY
ON kauai
Polo Men Spend
Fourth at
Lihue.

Unless there shall be change in
conditions there will not be polo
tournament this year. This conclu-
sion has been reached after some earn
est work on the part of the local club,
which has been most anxious to have
the representatives of the other ISL
ands come down for week of play
during the summer.
There are variety of reasons which
will operate against such a gathering
of the admirers of the sport. Maui,
as the runner up in last years tourna-
ment, might easily have been expect
ed to come down for a week, but ow-
ing to the fact that the game should
be played earlier than last year, to
avoid the rains, the men from the val
ley island believe that their duties
will prevent their taking part in a
tournament.
From Kauai there would be no OBJ
lection, as the men there are rare good
sports and would make a try at the
play even if they knew they could not
win, which is by no means assured.
But from the other end of the group
there is little hope, for while the young
or the backing to permit them to go
in deep enough, to allow the sending
of four with animals fit to compete
in the tournament.
AS in consequence it seems likely
now that If there are nter-island
games they will be isolated matches,
made when four can be got together
and played at the mutual convenience
of the men. The first of these games
will be that of July 4. which will take
place on Kauai. The field for the
sport is outside of Lihue, at conven-
lent spot for both the Kealia and the
Lihue teams, and there the Rice and
Spauldings meet and contest at least
weekly and have done SO for the past
six or more months.
The two teams on Kauai are fast
and hard players, lacking in some re-
spects the finish of the local player in
team work, but that it something that
can come only after long and close
matches with the best teams, for the
play is developed only in such contests
The two teams are made UP Of the
Rice boys and two native cattle men,
and the Spauldings and two native
riders. 1t is in this form that the
teams play as a rule. However, some
times for the sake of better practice
the teams break UP into the Hawai-
ians against the haoles, and in one
such match as this recently, the ma
tive boys won the two hours play
with one goal made by Peter Melina.
who was seen here with the Rices last
fall
Having the pick of the Rice, Spaul-
ing and Gay horses there seems ev-
cry reason to believe that the Kauai
team will be the best mounted four
that ever will appear on "a local field.
1t is the intention of the Kealia men
to secure some trained ponies from
California soon, SO that they may have
the advantage Of the schooled horses,
but there are now in the clubs stables
as good animals as have ever been
played here.
The local team will be one Of the |
best that can be arranged. owing to
the fact that it has been chosen for
the very purpose of meeting the condi- ,
lions of the Kauai field. The local
grounds were all too short
for the game, and the result was the
placing at a disadvantage of the Maui /
team, it's men having practiced on a
longer field. The Kauai field Is of the
full length, 900 feet, for this reason
the men chosen are the hardest drivers
of the local players. Captain Damon
will play No. 1, Robert Atkinson, No.
2, w. F. Dillingham;. No. 3, Charles
Dole, No. 4. This is hard team to
beat, and the men promise to give :
good account of themselves in any
play. They will take eight horses, and
the Kauai men promise to play only
that number SO that everything may
be kept on an even basis. 1t is the
expectation that the local players will
go down in the steamer of Thursday
July 2. and return leaving Lihue on
evening, the Fourth of July.
Father Valentine was successfully /
operated upon Saturday at the John .