Polo: Fairytale eludes veteran

Members of the Rangitikei A team with the Dewar Cup, from left: Harriet McKelvie, Angus McKelvie, Campbell Davis and David Bird. Photo / Warren Buckland

It was almost a fairytale finish for Hawke's Bay polo player Phil "Curly" Thompson at the Dewar Cup tournament which ended in Hastings yesterday.

Forty-five years after playing in his first Dewar Cup division final at the Bayleys Hawke's Bay Open at Elwood Park, No4, Thompson, 67, played for the Hawke's Bay A team which lost 9-7 to Rangitikei A in yesterday's final.

"We let it slip in that third chukka ... it could have been pretty special for Curly," Hawke's Bay A No3 and Kiwi professional Johnny Coddington said.

After leading 4-3 at halftime Bayleys Hawke's Bay A lost the third chukka 4-2. Apart from this period the hosts were more than competitive with Rangitikei A who had a commanding figure in No4, regular New Zealand representative Angus McKelvie, who scored eight of his team's goals.

"Considering it was our first time playing together and we hadn't even trained together we did well.

"This will give us confidence and all four of us will be back here next year to try and go one step better," Coddington said.

"I don't know about that," Thompson remarked before his nephew and Hawke's Bay Polo Club club captain Jared Thompson, assured him he will be playing in the top grade again next year.

The younger Thompson can be proud of his contribution, particularly in the second chukka when he scored two goals and was tireless on defence. Coddington's partner and English professional, Lucy Taylor, playing at No1 for Hawke's Bay A got the quality matchplay she wanted before playing for England against New Zealand at Kihi Kihi on Saturday.

The weekend's tournament was Taylor's first since September after recovering from injuries she received from a kick from a horse and she scored two of the hosts' goals in an entertaining final of the 121st edition of the tournament. Rangitikei A led 3-2 after the first chukka and 7-5 after the third.

Hawke's Bay A booked their berth in the final with a 4-3 win against Rangitikei B on Saturday, while Rangitikei A beat defending champions Wanstead A 9-6.

The all-Hawke's Bay MacKenzie Cup (medium goal) final saw Birchleigh beat Wanstead B 6-3 after leading 6-0 at halftime. The Nelson Cup (low goal section) final saw Poverty Bay A beat Wanstead C 7-3.