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



position, that a young player ambitious of getting 

 into a good team, ought to cultivate that place. 



DUTIES OF NO. 2. 



It is a great mistake for a man to invariably play 

 No. 2. No matter how brilliant a player he may be, 

 he should occasionally play No. i, by doing which 

 he will appreciate the difficulties No. i labours under, 

 and will learn what No. i can and cannot do. If 

 he knows this thoroughly, he will be fully capable of 

 helping his No. i with instructions and encourage- 

 ment. 



A No. 2 has to look after the oppposing No. 3, and 

 his object both in attack and defence should be to 

 get the best of him, and always try to be in front of 

 him. If he cannot get the ball, he should try to stop 

 any of his opponents obtaining possession of it. He 

 must be a " busy" player, and constantly on the gallop. 

 He must be always on the look out, and try to anti- 

 cipate where the ball is going to be hit, and get there 

 before his opponents. If he can rely on his No. 3 

 or on his Back hitting a back-hander, he should check 

 his pace and prepare to turn before the ball is hit, 

 when he has made up his mind where it is coming 

 to. He should, however, not do this when the ball 

 is close to his own goal ; because he should then 

 devote his attention to defending, and preventing 

 the opposing No. 3 getting a shot at goal. When, his 

 own side is attacking, and the ball is in his op- 

 ponents' quarter of the ground, he may take more 

 liberties and turn sooner in the hope of getting a shot 

 at goal. 



One of the chief duties of No. 2 is to give his 



