Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-23
AMERICAN FOUR
OUTCLASSED ON
THE POLO FIELD
.T8y Latest NALL

IWeStbury, L.. L--Deni0rallZed Dy the
speed and team work of the English
lchalleneers, the American team went
down to defeat June Is in the first
game OF the match for the interna-
tienal polo cup by q score Of 5 y to 3.
After the first furry IN the opening
iperiOd the defending four never held
1.-The sway, being oHtplayed and out.
sprinted by the Nottingham club rep
fresentatiyes and the English ponies
The defeat came as great surprise
to the majority of the 10000 specta-
tors. who had expected an American
victory and made the cup defenders
10 to favorites in the wagering pre-.
vious to the game They we're quick
to appreciate the brilliant play Of the
invaders. however, and the stands
rang with applause at the clever exhi.
bition Of the team work and good
shooting of the blHe-shirted riders
from England.
This superiority became apparent
with the bell in the opening period,
and 1t appeared to upset the defending
four. which never recovered the form
shown In recent practice games until
the Closing minutes OF the game. when
the Americans settled down and gave
the first indications Of team play OF
which they were supposed to be ca
pable.
The schaliengers gave the finest ex-
hibition of teamwork ever seen In an
invading four. Both on attack and
defense they played the ball into each
others hands. taking few unwarrant-
ed chances, and the success of these
tactics was proved BY the score and
ease BY which they won the first leg
| In the 1914 trophy series
Wonderful Teamwork.
1t was not alone in teamwork that
| the English players excelled. however,
for their stockwork was revelation.
At either forehand or backhand driv-
ing they outclassed the defenders and
the length and direction of their
strokes showed the benefits gained by
the long preliminary practice season,
which began in Madrid early IN the
winter
The American four was far weaker
than was the rcase last year and IN
team which surpassed in skill and
speed the combination which just fail
ed to lift the cup in 1918. The absence
Eof former Captain Harry Payne Whit
ney appeared to break TIP the perfect
combination play for which the big
-four" has been noted For years Rene
la MONTAGUE. who played at No. i,
was unable to pierce the English de-
Tense, even when backed by Captain
Monte Waterbury. and the burden Of
the rushes into the English end of the
field was finally shouldered by the
captain of the American four. La
Montague was wild I'M his stroking
and repeatedly missed comparatively
easy chances to score goals. In sew
eraI instances he carried the ball half
the length of the field. only to fail at
the crucial moment by "a poorly di.
rected shot.
This confusion was communicated
to the other players. all veterans OF
several international matches. and
they OVERRIDE the ball. missed easy
strokes and were easily ridden off By
their English opponents They were
further handicapped by the fact that
in turning and sprints Up and down
the field the English ponies were fast
er on their feet and better handled.
This kept the play almost entirely in
the American end of the field, except
when the Americans succeeded by In.
diyidua1 effort in rushing the ball
down the turf to the Ini0n Jack goal.
Captain cheape the Star
The English seldom sacrificed team
work for individual briliiancy play
ing the ball into the hands of the man
In the best position to make the shot
Captain Cheape and Tomkins0n, how
ever, starred In the attack because Of
their forward position. and the veteran
at No. never gave better example
Eof fine riding and driving than he
did in this game He fed the ball to
Tomkinson or carried It through Mil
burn and Larry Waterbury, repeatedly
scoring the English goals and assist
ing repeatedly in Tomkii.son's efforts,
which resulted In three goals for Eng
lands No. l. The quickness with.
which the invaders defense came In
to support the attack when theaopp0r-t
tunity offered is shown by the fact
that Captain Loekett, the English;
back. contributed two goals 10 the
score of his team.
The play in general was fast and
clean, and aside from cropper expes
rienced early in the game 7by Larry
Waterbury. was without the sugges-
ton of an accident Apparently there
was the best of feeling between the
players and Captain Waterbury, was
first to congratulate Captain Barrett
Immediately after the final bell ended
the initial contest.
The score was the largest run M
in recent years by either United
States or English teams IN cup
match Not since the big four de-
feated the birmingham club By eight
to two in the final game OF the 1909
series. when the cup was regained.
have today's figures beer exceeded
The game also developed the quickest
goal ever made In international cup
flo y ~. 81 -