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me
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
subject before the Government. (Applause). { were now changed and the ball was once Gentlemen, I do not think there is anything more started from the centre and play became more for me to say, but I assure you that rather more rapid, but both "backs" seemed to I deeply feel the honour you have done be saving their ponies. However, Loveband's and the good fellowship which has team got possession and Gresson ran the ball united you all to present with this down into dangerous proximity to the goal, souvenir, which I shall always look upon Burney saving with a back hander, which, how with the greatest pleasure in years to come.
Iever, only let Loveband in, who, making an oam only add that 1 have handed the position of excellent cross hit, sent the ball between the hon. secretary of this Club to Mr. Armstrong, flags, and the bell rang, leaving the score at who, I am absolutely certain, will ran it with Burney's team one goal, Loveband's team one the greatest possible success. (Applause.) goal. Gentlemen, I thank you all for your souvenir, And when I leave Hongkong I shall look back to the happy days that I have had in the colony, and those happy days have been mostly due to my connection with the V. R, C. (Applause.)
The programme of music was an exception. ally good one and the many contributions were highly appreciated. Dr. Meadows kindly favoured the Club with his presence and it is needless to say that everyone enthusiastic in praising his singing. He had to respond four times to encores. The remain. ing gentlemen who contributed to the harmony of the evening were Messrs. H. B. Bridger, B. J. H. Bentley, W. Dannenberg, 8. Robinson, E. Joseph, E. Mirow, and C. T. Robinson. The string band of H. M. S. Centurion played some capital selections and Messrs. Grimble and Lea acted as accompanists. The proceedings con- cluded with the toast "Success to the V. R. C.' proposed by Mr. Sanders,
was
THE RIFLE BRIGADE
REGIMENTAL PLATE.
"
**
"
an
At the recommencement of hostilities again ends were changed and the ball was sot going in the centre. Play became much faster this quarter and Burney's team got the ball down to the stable goal end, when Cruickshank gave
* off side." an
A free hit was claimed and there was every look like a goal. Burney "centred
the ball, being at too great an angle to try for a goal, but unfortunately it failed to score. most
The hit out resulted in a rush and Gresson ran the ball down the ground, but, crossing and re-crossing, Burney was finally appealed against for dangerous riding and the ball was brought back to the stable goal end. Burney took a free hit and sending the ball to the centre rode after it and put it between the flags. This made Burney's team two goals, Loveband's one. Ends were changed and the ball set going. Play now was a bit up and down pretty fast, but out of a melée nearly in the centre of the ground Loveband hit enormously long stroke and sent the ball through the goal. Score, two all. Only twenty seconds remained to play. The ball was thrown in the centre and both backs rode to score and Loveband meeting a rather fast ball hit a wonderful stroke and following it up bit a long ball, sending it between the flags, the goal being absolutely unprotected. This fin- ished the game, at Loveband three goals, Burney two. Mrs. Black very graciously presented the Cup to Mr. Cruickshank, who being the young est member was deputed by Capt. Loveband to receive it and was greeted by rounds and rounds of well deserved applause. This brought an excellent game to a close and there is no doubt that the tournament has given an immense impulse to Polo and let us hope has inspired Polo players generally with a desire to improve their play and thus improve the game. Capt. Loveband's win is a very popular one, and deservedly so, and we hope he may often play on the winning side.
The Rifle Brigade Regimental Plate was run for on the afternoon of the 23nd April over the steeplechase course on the Happy Valley and
resulted as follows:-
One and a quarter mile.
12 stone.
Catch weights over
Capt. Radclyffe's Koumiss Mr. Salmon's Q.C. Mr. Hollond's Vapour Capt. Patton Bethune's Monte
Mr. Salmon's Gibraltar Mr. Hollond's Cocktail
3
(Owner) 1 (Owner) 2 (Mr. Power) Cristo...
(Owner) (Mr. Percival) 5 (Owner) 0 Vapour got away in front and led up to the second flight of hurdles, where he ran out and took the rest with him. They were soon got straight again and Monte Cristo led over the water, followed closely by Q.C., Koumiss, and Gibraltar, which order was kept till passing the Green Gates, when Capt. Radclyffe sent Kou- miss to the front and making the remainder of the running won easily by eight lengths. A capital race for second place resulted in favour of Q.C. by half a length, with Monte Cristo close up fourth.
The trophy was presented to the winner by Mrs. Norcott after the race.
Capt. Burney kindly acted as starter and Lieut. Colonel The O'Gorman as judge. An excellent course was kindly made up by Mr. Hangh.
THE POLO TOURNAMENT.
On the afternoon, of the 24th April in delight- ful weather, the final of the Polo Tournament as played between Capt. Loveband' steam and Capt. Burney's team, which were composed as follows:-
Capt. Loreband.. Capt. Nugent Mr. Gresson
back Capt. Burney..
back
3
2
1
3 Lieut. Digby . 2 Lieut. Grayson Mr.Cruickshank, B.A. 1 Capt. Bethune
There was a large attendance as usual, incind ing the Governor, Major-General and Mrs. Black, the Commodore and Mrs. Boyes, and many others, all eager to see the result.
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The game was a splendid exhibition of infringement of the rules and will undoubtedly bring clearly to the minds of Pole players the result of playing "off side" and "crossing," Lo. Within three minutes of the commencement of play two "off sides" and one cross ware given against Capt. Burney's team. The game was ther stickey at first, but soon warmed up and Barney's forwards, forcing the game, succeeded in getting it down into their adversaries' territory and Digby pot it between the ligų. First blood for Burney's team. Ends
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44
off side
19
ON LOOKER.
FOULS" AT
“OFF SIDE" AND
POLO. The next most important point at Polo after crossing" is the consideration of "off side " and those of "fouls." The definition of "off side given by the I. P. A. R. is to the effect that a player is
if when the ball is last struck or played at there is no player of the opposite side between him and the adversaries' goal and that he is neither in possession of the ball himself nor following up one of his own side who in possession of the ball, and, further, that he remains "off side " until either one of his own side passes him, who is on side, or the ball is struck or played at again and at that moment there is one of his opponents between him and the adversaries' goal. All the words in italics are most important, as they constitute the essence of being "off side." You often hear a player say "Off side; rot! why look at so-and-so," perhaps some short time after the ball has been struck or "played at," quite for getting that although so-and-so may be between him and the adversary's goal now he was not so at the time the ball was struck or "played at." A clever "back" will often put "No. 1" off side by taking a pull at his pony just as the ball is being struck, or, possibly, when one of his own side is playing a back hander, he will quickly turn round and thus have “No. 1" off side. I have seen a good back riding to take a "back hander," and being ridden off by Nos. 1 and 2 of the opposite side, quickly turn as his own No. 3 took a "back hander," and galloping down the ground backing “No. 3' up keep Nos. 1 and 2 of the opposite side "off side" all the time, until reaching the further and they managed to get "en side," only in time to see a goal hit and with which they were
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thi
[April 29,1806
powerless to interfere, being "off side."- Pőlá when played to rule is like all other games, far more scientific, far more interesting to watoli; and far better sport than the game becomes when rules are disregarded. One more point before I pass this subject. I would call partie onlar attention to the words "until he is passed by one of his own side who is on side." Now one of his own side to be on side must either be m possession of the ball or have been on side when the ball was last struck or played at; thus No. 2 bringing the ball down the ground No.'1rides off the "back" of the opposing side, and the back " taking a pull just as No. 2 striker
*1 and he re the ball puts No 1 "off side mains"
off side " until No. 2 passes him or until the ball is
"played at or statok again and he is on side at the moment It will readily be seen from the foregoing t an umpire can alone decide who is "off side," as the players themselves have enough to do in watching the game (of course, flagrant cases are apparent to anyone) and the IPAR. lay down that it is the duty of such umpire to declare the "off side" whether appealed to or not. There is no penalty for actually being the penalty is incurred when you interfere with the game where you are “off. side" and this penalty holds good whether your interference is wittingly or unwittingly. By interference is meant any attempt to hit or stop the ball or to prevent another from hitting the ball either by riding him off or getting in his way. Thus an unmanageable pony may incur the penalty of off side against the rider's wishe; it is nevertheless to be incurred, and it is to be remembered that it is incurred however slight this interference is, so long as the umpire considers that it was interference,
"off side;
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"cross.”
Of course "crossing" and "off side" constitute Now to consider what may constitute a “foul." fouls; but there are other causes of foul, and these are to be found in the contravention of the rules of the game; for instance; * player is allowed to hook another's stick only under certain conditions, and there- fore if he breaks this rule he incurs the penalty of a foul, which is commonly known B6 an ordinary foul. The penalty for a
cross,
," although being a foul, is a special one and only incurred under rule 25. All other fouls have two penalties, which are optional to the side entitled to the claim, viz., either to havé a free hit from the spot where the foul took place, or to make the side causing the foul to play the ball out from behind their goal line, the same as if they had hit it there themselves.
This Now we come to "dangerous riding." need be the contravention of no particular rules, but merely the fact of riding dangerously. The umpire is at liberty to warn a player for dangerous riding and if he persists to order him off the ground. In an ordinary case of dangerous riding he may bring it under rale 25 and give the penalty for a
The point where dangerous riding commences without contravening the actual rules of the game must be left entirely to the umpire. For instance, a player taking the ball down the ground and being "ridden off" by an adversary on the near side takes the ball under his pony's neck, cutting it to the left and thereupon alters his course to the left in such a manner as to absolutely pre clude his adversary from complying with rule 26, is guilty of "dangerous riding." Again, player who, riding to take a ball backhanded with his adversary coming up on his "off" side, takes the ball and immediately turns to his right is again guilty of dangerous riding. So also player riding into another at an angle, instead of first turning his pony into the direction the player is going in, with a view of riding him off, is guilty of "dangerous riding," Galloping in front of a player and then suddenly pulling up over the ball would also come under heading of dangerous riding under certain circumstances. It will be seen therefore that the question of dangerous riding must be left entirely to the umpire, as it does not neces require the contravention of any partictilar rufe. Asan example, the player who, riding down the ground and being ridden off on his near sid hits the ball to his left and then alters his cours
in such a manner as to cross the line of di of the other pony, without the possi that player complying with rule 26, not being guilty of crossing (being in posse
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