46 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF POLO. [Chap. II 



No. I has a very much better chance of interfering 

 with the Back, when the opposite side is attacking, 

 in which case his chief business is to constantly try to 

 prevent the Back from coming up and forcing the 

 game with forward strokes (Fig. 22). Provided he 

 has handy, good ponies, he should nearly always be 

 able to do this, and will thereby greatly assist his 

 side, although he may not get much applause for it, 

 as it is not a showy game. He will, however, win 

 many a match for his side, and will be fully appre- 

 ciated, if his Captain understands polo. 



To succeed, he must stay close to the Back and watch 

 him all the time. If he is watching the Back, as soon 

 as he sees him try to dart in, he can intercept his pony 

 and prevent him doing it. If the game is going fast 

 towards his own goal, No. i should be riding along- 

 side the Back, but with two feet the best of it, i.e., 

 with his knee against the shoulder of his opponent's 

 pony. In this position, if the Back wants to dash in 

 and get the ball. No. i can always ride him out 

 towards the side, even if the Back is a much heavier 

 man than himself No. i should not do unnecessarv 

 hustling, when the ball is not near, and there is no 

 object to be gained. 



When the ball is hit behind the opposite back line, 

 No. I should place himself for the hit out, facing the 

 man who hits out, rather away from the goal, where 

 he thinks the ball will be hit (Fig. 23 and 24). Here, 

 his business is to meet the ball if possible, and prevent 

 his opponent from dribbling out, by galloping straight 

 in immediately the ball is hit over the back line. He 

 should always remember, directly the ball is hit behind, 

 to at once get to his place, and not stand about and 



