HOW A POLO MATCH SHOULD BE PLA YED 363 



one of vital importance. They seem to think that their adver- 

 sary may miss the ball, or, Mr. Micawber-like, that 'something 

 will turn up ' to produce the effect that they themselves should 

 be instrumental in bringing about. Naturally such indecision 

 and lack of dash are fatal. 



' Riding out ' is also another important point, and here No. i 

 will have a great field for the display of such talents as he may 

 possess. ' Riding out ' consists in getting your pony in such a 

 position that you force your adversary to abandon the favour- 

 able position he holds for striking the ball, or it may apply to 

 keeping an opponent in such a position that he is unable to 

 foil his adversary or assist one of his own side. Hustling or 

 pushing an adversary is, of course, permissible, and a man may 

 push with his arm, but must not use it below the elbow. In no 

 case is pushing with the extended arm and hand allowable. 



Many men will delay having a shot at the enemy's goal 

 owing to the distance the ball is from it. This, however, 

 should not be a deterrent, for it should be remembered that it 

 will take the ball near the goal, even if it does not go through 

 the goal posts. Hit hard, therefore, and try for a goal 

 directly you are within possible range, and do not wait till the 

 ball is nearer and in a better line for the goal posts. The 

 chances are that the easier stroke will never come off, and it is 

 astonishing at what a distance a goal can be hit. An instance 

 of this is perhaps worth recording here. It occurred at Hurl- 

 ingham, during the season of 1889, in a match between the 

 Elvaston and Houghton Clubs. Mr. James Peat, who was 

 playing for the latter, got hold of the ball some fifty yards below 

 the Pavilion, and between it and the * stables ' goal, and some 

 two hundred and fifteen yards from the ' Chesnuts ' goal, which 

 was his opponents' stronghold. With one tremendous drive 

 he sent the ball up the ground, not straight for the goal, but 

 rather parallel with the boundary boards. Following it up, he 

 hit again ; and though the angle, one of about thirty-three 

 degrees, and the distance, a hundred yards or more, seemed to 

 preclude all chances of success, yet such was the precision with 



