36 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF POLO. [Chap. II. 



knowing where the ball is about to go, will be apt to 

 get spread-eagled, and the opposite side, by cutting off 

 a corner, can usually stop a run. 



In attack, if the ball be near both the side and the 

 end of the ground, one member of the team, who will 

 usually be the Back, should hang about near the 

 centre of the ground, handy for a shot at goal, while 

 the remainder of the side should use every endeavour 

 to centre the ball out to him. Under these circum- 

 stances, if the Back is in the centre of the ground. 

 No. 3 must keep ready to take Back's place, and 

 after middling the ball to him by means of a back- 

 hander, should gallop towards the centre of the 

 ground to such a position that he is able to take 

 up the duties of defence. Certain risks may be 

 taken — especially in the adversaries' quarter of the 

 ground — which would not be allowable in defence. 

 For instance, the Back, when close to the opposing 

 goal, may dash in for a shot at goal and meet the ball ; 

 because if he misses it, he will have the whole length 

 of the ground in which to retrieve his error. But 

 before doing this, he must warn No. 3 to cover him. 

 Again, in defence it is never correct for No. 3 to let 

 two of the opposing side get on to the Back ; because 

 if No. I hustles the Back off the ball, No. 2 will have 

 a free shot. When close to the adversaries' goal, 

 however, No. 3 can often see where the back-hander 

 will be likely to come, and may turn his pony before 

 the stroke, in anticipation of a shot at goal. 



If players will keep their eyes open and their wits 

 about them, they will often be able to anticipate what 

 is going to happen. For instance. No. 3 sees that his 

 Back is about to hit a back-hander under his pony's 



