Polo: Bay teen relishes cup glory

Morningstar's Angus McKelvie (right) controls the ball with Kihi Kihi players James Watson (left) and Caleb Watson in hot pursuit. Photo/Warren Buckland .

Talk about introducing yourself to the national polo scene in style Waitakeo Banks!

A second-season player with the Porangahau-based Wanstead club, Banks, 16, was the only Hawke's Bay member of the Morningstar team which beat Kihi Kihi 6-4 in yesterday's Dewar Cup final at the Hawke's Bay Open in Hastings. The No 1 player who has a -2 handicap was outstanding in all aspects of play, particularly his defensive work off the ball.

"Pretty mean . . . a great experience at 6-goal level for the first time," Banks replied when quizzed on how he found the standard of play.

"When Angus McKelvie asked me if I wanted to play with him for Morningstar I jumped at the opportunity. He is the man after all," Banks said pointing to McKelvie who tasted Dewar Cup glory for the fourth consecutive year and scored five of his team's goals in the final.

One of two East Coast players, Wanstead A's Wirihana Kururangi is the other, who is sponsored and trained by Porangahau polo personality Harriet Kuru, Banks, a product of Tolaga Bay Area School, has been involved in horse sports since he was 6.

"Polo is my No 1 sport and I want to represent New Zealand in the future," he added before wandering off to the tournament prizegiving where the South Australia Salver for the Central Districts player displaying the most promise was waiting for him.

McKelvie was quick to heap kudos on Banks, who is believed to be the youngest member of a winning Dewar Cup side in the tournament's 81-year history.

"Wai had a really good tournament and a blinder in today's final."

McKelvie, who played for Rangitikei A when they won the previous three Dewar Cups, pointed out quality team work on day one, when they beat Hawke's Bay A 7-3, was the key to their success in the three-day event.

"Saturday's 5-4 win against Hawke's Bay B was a good wake-up call for us too because we were asleep in that game," McKelvie said.

His Morningstar team, which also included brother Cam at No 3 and Arthur Morgenstern at No 2, led 2-0 after the first chukka, 4-1 at halftime and 6-2 going into the final chukka. The McKelvie brothers, who are third generation players, combined well.

Cam McKelvie scored Morningstar's other goal. No 3 James Watson, a son of former New Zealand captain Jimmy Watson, scored Kihi Kihi's first goal from a penalty in the second chukka.

No 2 Travis Auborn scored their second in the third chukka after superb work from No 4 Barratt Watson. In the final chukka Barratt Watson scored an outstanding backhand goal and James Watson converted a penalty.

Angus McKelvie said he will return to the tournament next year with the aim of winning a fifth consecutive title but it is too early to say who he will be playing for.

The Hawke's Bay A team of Jared Thompson, English imports Ollie and Cody Jones and Mongolian import Palam Battumur had their first win of the tournament when they beat the Hawke's Bay B team of Nick, Jonny and Dan Coddington and Annmarie Cavanagh 7-4 in yesterday's playoff for fifth in the Dewar Cup section.

The Hawke's Bay C team of father-and-son George and Monty Wood, Pete Hyslop and Bill Glazebrook lost 6-3 to Rangitikei A in the McKenzie Cup final and the Wanstead B team of Alex James, Julia Coddington, Edwina Simcox and Simon McDonald beat the Hawke's Bay Mole Maps team of Victoria Muir, Kylie Ebbett, Jonty Apatu and Lucy Taylor 7-3.5 in the Nelson Cup final.