COMBINATION. 27 



Before discussing in detail the science of polo, I 

 must impress on young players the necessity of 

 learning the rules. Although it is manifest that we 

 should have at our fingers' ends the rules under which 

 we play, many, even good players who have played 

 the game for years, are marvellously ignorant on the 

 subject of rules, on account of being too lazy or too 

 indifferent to learn them from the book, which is the 

 only accurate way by which to acquire that know- 

 ledge. 



Four a side is the recognised number in all games 

 and matches. In club games, when the full comple- 

 ment cannot be obtained, three a side will often afford 

 plenty of sport ; but the diminution in number will, as 

 a rule, entail too much galloping work on the ponies, 

 and will render it impossible to carry out the principles 

 of the game in their entirety. Three a side is, how- 

 ever, much better than five a side, for which there is 

 not sufficient room in the present galloping game. 



The places in the game are, Nos. 1,2, 3, and 4 ; or. 

 First Forward, Second Forward, Half-back and Back. 



The rough idea of the duties of the different 

 players in the Combination game, is that the main 

 object of No. I is to interfere with the Back of 

 the opposing side, to clear the way for his No. 2, 

 and to hit as many goals as possible. No. 2's 

 first duty is to attack hard, stop the opposing No. 3, 

 and hit goals. No. 3 should assist in the defence 

 of his own goal, and serve up the ball to the 

 forwards. Back must defend his own goal. In 

 practice this rough idea is, of course, subject to 

 endless modifications ; for as the game changes, all 

 the players in turn will attack and defend. No. i 



