Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-15

w upset by the speed and team work
of the English challengers, the Amer
lean team went down to defeat at the
Meadowbrook Polo Club Saturday aft
ernoon in the first game of the match
for the International Polo Cup, by
score of s1s to 8 goals.
After the first furry in the open
ing period, the defending four never
held the sway, being outplayed and
outsprinted by the Nottingham Club
representatives and the Engllsh
ponies.
The defeat came as a 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-
yious to the game. They were quick
to appreciate the brilliant play of the
invaders, however, and the stands
rang with applause at the clever ex-
hibition of team work and good shoot
ing of the blue shirted riders from
England. s&s
This superiority became apparent
with the bell in the opening period,
and it appeared to upset the defend
ing 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.
The challengers 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 The success of these tao
tics was proved by the ease with |
which they captured the first leg in
the 1914 trophy series.
1t was not alone in teamwork that
the English players excelled, however,
for their stickwork was a 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
La Montague Misses Chances
The American four was far weaker
than was the case last year and IN
addition was called upon to face
team which surpassed in skill ana
: .speed the combination which Just fall
. ed to lift.the cup In 1913. The absence
of former captain. Harry Payne Whit
ney. appeared to break up the perfect
combination play for which the Big
Four, has been noted for years.
Rene La Montague, who played at
No. /. was unable to pierce the Eng
lish defence even when backed by
Capt. Monte Waterbury, and the bur-
den of the rushes into the English
end of the field was finally sheuidered
by the captain of the American -FOUR.
La Montague was exceedingly wild
in his stroking and repeatedly missed
comparatively easy chances to score
goals. In several instances he carried
the ball half the length of the field,
only to fail at the crucial moment
by a poorly directed shot
This confusion was communicated to
the other players, all veterans of sew
eral 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 turn
ing and sprints up and down the field
the English ponies were faster on their
feet and better handled.
This kept the play almost entirely
in the American end of the field, ex
cept when the Americans succeeded
by individual efforts in rushing the
ball down the turf to the Union Jack
goal.
- The English seldom sacrificed team
work for individual brilliancy. play
ing the ball into the hands of the man
in the best position to make the shot.
Capt. Cheape and Tomkinson, how
ever, starred in the attack because of
their forward position and the vet
eran at No. never gave better ex
ample OF finer riding and driving than
he did today.
Capt. Cfeape fed the ball TO Tom
,kinson or carried it through Milburn
and Larry Waterbury repeatedly. scor-
ing four of the English goals and as
sisting repeatedly in Tomkinson's eff
forts, which resulted In three goals for
England's No /.
The quickness with which the in
vaders' defence came in to support the
: attack when the opportunity offered
shown by the fact that Capt. Lock
EFT, the English back, contributed two
sgeals TO the afternoon score of his
'ntearn
Larry Waterbury Takes Chopper
The play in general was fast and
clean and aside from copper expert
enced early in the game by Larry Wa
terbury was without the suggestion of
an accident. Apparently there was
the best Of feeling between the play