BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



strike me as being so good as some of the Calcutta players, 

 sometimes galloping over the ball, and not making such long 

 hits. The Calcutta team played very well, both individually 

 and collectively, and quickly got into the Munipoorie style of 

 play. The experience of this match leads to the conclusion 

 it is much the best game, for had strict "off side" rules been 

 in force the same free game could not have been played, and 

 the principal science of the Munipoorie would have been of 

 little effect.' 



The significance of the Munipuris' method of placing their 

 men will not be lost upon modern players. 



The first match ever played in England was that between 

 the 9th Lancers and 10th Hussars at Hounslow Heath in the 

 summer of 1871. Major St. Leger Moore, of the former regi- 

 ment, writing to The World of 27th July 1894, says, ' We played 

 eight a side and with a small ivory or bone ball which I have 

 now in my possession, and ash sticks.' 



To whomsoever credit is due, polo received its social 

 benison on 16th July 1872, when a team of the Blues played a 

 team of the 9th Lancers before the Prince and Princess of 

 Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, and a number of guests 

 in the Home Park, Windsor. The ground was kept by a 

 hundred men of the Blues, and as there was a large crowd 

 present the scene must have been imposing. This is from The 

 Field's account of the game : — 



' On behalf of the Blues, the INIarquis of Worcester, Lord 

 Arthur Somerset, the Hon. T. and Hon. C. Fitzwilliam, Lord 

 Kilmarnock, and Mr. A. Egerton took the field. The 9th 

 Lancers were represented by Lord W. Beresford, Capt. Clayton, 

 Capt. Palairet, Mr. Moore, Mr. Green, and Mr. Wheeler. Mr. 

 Hartojip and Capt. Ewart acted as umpires. The competitors 

 were mounted on strong and active ponies, and each man was 

 armed with a hockey stick about 4 ft. long, the handle of which 

 was of bamboo, with the head flat and fixed on at an angle. . . . 

 The ball was little larger than a cricket ball, and painted white 

 to be easily distinguishable when rolling. The ground marked 



218 



