Polo: Psychological edge for Mystery Creek

BREAKING AWAY: Hurunui's Lachie Hunter charges away during his team's 12-11 loss to Mystery Creek yesterday. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Give the favourite's tag for tomorrow's Savile Cup polo tournament final in Hastings to Waikato team Mystery Creek.

Despite losing No 2 and two goaler Henry Wood with a twisted ankle and a bout of concussion when they were trailing their final opponents 7-5 in the fourth chukka of their six-chukka clash at Elwood Park yesterday Mystery Creek recorded a 12-11 victory. When quizzed if Wood was going to be fit for the final Mystery Creek captain and former New Zealand rep Simon Keyte replied:

"He should be but if he isn't we've got an equal replacement in Harry."

He was referring to Auckland D one goaler Harry Ravel who was an admirable replacement and proved it shouldn't be too long before he receives a goal promotion.

Six goaler Keyte agreed neither team put in 100 per cent yesterday as they both knew they would be clashing again tomorrow.

"It was a dead rubber but it was very important to give the horses the necessary experience for Sunday," Keyte explained after giving one of his younger horses some extra training following the match.

Because the long-time professional spends more time abroad than in New Zealand he is only playing in his fourth Savile Cup tournament.

"That's why I'm looking forward to the final immensely. I've been in three winning Savile Cup teams and I want to be in a fourth on Sunday."

When it was suggested to Hurunui captain and No 1 Peter Dormer his troops may have kept a few tricks up their sleeves for tomorrow's final he replied:

"We could have but you will have to watch the final. Seriously it only counts on Sunday ... but we still wanted to win today."

He agreed his troops eased off too much in the fourth chukka when they were outscored 4-1. Tighter team work and variation of horse power will be the main areas which will be addressed by the Hurunui camp during the countdown to the final.

"This game was part of our preparation. All the horses are fit and sound which is the main thing," Dormer added.

His team led 3-2 after a tight first chukka which saw both teams miss a field goal attempt each. Hurunui's "Wanstead import" and former New Zealand rep Lachie Hunter scored two goals and No 2 Sam Martin one for the South Islanders while Keyte and Wood scored for Mystery Creek.

Hurunui led 5-4 after the second chukka which saw Hunter score from a penalty and Martin score a field goal. Keyte and five goaler Angus McKelvie scored for Mystery Creek.

English five goaler Olly Tutill and Hunter scored for Hurunui in the third which ended with the mainlanders ahead 7-4. The score was 8-all at the end of the fourth which saw McKelvie score two goals and Keyte and No 1 Arthur Morgenstern one each for Mystery Creek and Hunter one for Hurunui.

McKelvie scored two goals and Hunter one in the fifth which ended with Mystery Creek ahead 10-9. Quick goals from Keyte and McKelvie gave Mystery Creek a three-goal buffer in the sixth which left Hurunui in catch up mode and Hunter scored two late goals to close the gap.

Wanstead C and Birchleigh A were the only Hawke's Bay teams to record wins yesterday. Wanstead C beat Hawke's Bay D 5-2 in their Wood Trophy Subsidary fixture and Birchleigh A beat Poverty Bay B 5-.5 in their McKenzie Salver Subsidary match.

The Hawke's Bay C team, which includes 69-year-old Phil "Curly" Thompson in the No 4 role will take on the President's All Stars in today's Wood Trophy final. Two Hawke's Bay teams, Wanstead A and Hawke's Bay A will clash in one of today's Equissage Wilson Cup semifinals.

The Hawke's Bay B team will play Auckland D in today's Klaus Cup final.