GROUND, BALLS, STICKS, GOAL-POSTS, ETC. 305 



As an illustration of the dangers of the thick wooden posts, 

 even when partly sawn through, I may mention a couple of 

 incidents which I witnessed in the season of 1889 at Hurlingham. 

 During a match between the loth Hussars and a Hurlingham 

 team, Captain the Hon. H. T. Allsopp and Mr. Alfred Peat 

 were racing for the ball, which was on the very confines of 

 the goal. Eager with the excitement of the moment, Captain 

 Allsopp either did not notice the goal post or else miscalcu- 

 lated his distance from it. Be that as it may, there was a serious 

 collision, a crash, a sound of cracking timber ; the goal post 

 flew one way and the gallant Hussar and his pony rolled over 

 like a shot rabbit on the other. The fall looked bad, but for- 

 tunately was unattended with any more serious consequences 

 to the hard-headed soldier than a black eye and a cracked rib, 

 altogether a lucky escape. The next day or the following one 

 these papier mache posts were substituted, and another collision 

 occurred with a goal post. This time Captain Fergusson, of 

 the Blues, was the player who matched his cranium against the 

 post, and I shall not forget his look of astonishment when he 

 found that he was unhurt, and that his pony did not come 

 down with him. 



Telegraph boards showing the numbers of goals made by 

 each team are also no unimportant adjunct to a polo ground 

 when a match its in progress, for, independently of the interest 

 that the game has for the spectators, it is useful to the players, 

 who in the heat and excitement of play can hardly remember 

 the exact state of the score. 



